In brief
Authorities in Andhra Pradesh have begun evacuating roughly 30,000 residents as Cyclone Murasu threatens the coast near Ongole. Wind speeds are expected to reach 100–110 km/h with significant power infrastructure risk, prompting deployment of disaster teams and suspension of schools. The cyclone follows a deadly predecessor, raising concerns about cumulative damage and public safety.
In the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, authorities have begun relocating around 30,000 people from low‑lying coastal villages as Cyclone Murasu prepares to strike the coast near Ongole late Monday, after a deadly storm destroyed homes and crops a week earlier.
Prakhar Jain, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, confirmed to Reuters that roughly 2,000 residents had already been moved by Monday and that plans were in place to evacuate the next 30,000. The meteorological department warned that the storm, classified as a severe cyclonic storm, would cross the coast with winds 100–110 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h, arriving between 11:30 pm Thursday (18:00 GMT) and 4 am Friday (22:30 GMT).
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to prepare for the cyclone, noting that 6,000 to 8,000 electrical poles could be damaged, posing a "severe threat to power supply". Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan assessed that the storm would heavily impact the districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla and Krishna.
National and state disaster response units were mobilised. Six teams from the National Disaster Response Force and seven from the State Disaster Response Force were deployed in advance, with three NDRF teams sent from neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Collector Himanshu Shukla of Nellore district urged fishermen not to go to sea and ordered coastal officials to remain at their posts.
Education authorities closed schools throughout Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha in anticipation of heavy rain, which is expected to continue over parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh through Wednesday, according to a local broadcast network.
Murasu is likely to be less intense than Cyclone Arnab, the storm that hit the same coastline on Wednesday, killing six people and destroying dozens of homes and crops. The continued approach of a new cyclone two weeks after a devastating one compounds concerns over infrastructure resilience and public safety.
In the hours before the storm’s arrival, emergency services held briefings for local officials, while residents were directed to evacuation shelters set up along the coast. The deployment of multiple disaster response teams underscores a nationwide emphasis on infrastructure readiness and coordinated crisis management.
Local accounts confirm that hundreds of vehicles have been moved to higher ground, and community leaders have been asked to assist with the evacuation of vulnerable households.
Officials stressed that the key to mitigating damage lies in early evacuation and the protection of critical power infrastructure, as the loss of electricity could hinder rescue and relief operations.
While the storm’s path remains monitored, the state government maintains that preparedness measures are in place, with continuous updates from the India Meteorological Department providing guidance on the cyclone’s intensity and projected landfall.
Citizens awaiting the cyclone’s arrival are advised to monitor official channels for updates, stay indoors during periods of rainfall, and avoid travel to low‑lying areas until evacuation orders are lifted.
