Cyclone Murasu makes landfall near Ongole; trees uprooted, flights cancelled across coastal Andhra Pradesh
The severe cyclonic storm crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole in Prakasam district early on Tuesday, with gusts of up to 120 kmph. NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed and heavy rain alerts stay in force.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Kothapatnam, close to Ongole in Prakasam district, early on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department said the system crossed the coast between 3.30 am and 5.30 am, with the landfall process beginning around 1 am.
Very strong winds, with gusts reported between 100 and 120 kmph, and heavy rain lashed the coastal districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla and Krishna. Hundreds of large trees were uprooted, and at least 19 domestic flights were cancelled.
Teams of the National and State Disaster Response Forces were deployed across Prakasam and Bapatla, and families in low-lying areas were moved to relief camps. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to stay on high alert.
The IMD expects Murasu to weaken steadily over land. Heavy to very heavy rainfall alerts remain in place for coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and adjoining interior regions, and the storm's outer bands are also bringing rain to parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Source: India Meteorological Department via ETV Bharat, Oneindia, News Today. Photo: NOAA-20 VIIRS satellite image / Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
