Cyclone Murasu is expected to bring fresh rain and strong winds to parts of Odisha even as the state continues rescue, relief and restoration work after Cyclone Arnab caused flooding and landslides. The system is forecast to make landfall along the south Andhra Pradesh coast by the morning of November 3, between Nellore and Narasapur, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The system intensified into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Saturday and was expected to become a deep depression within 12 hours before strengthening into a cyclonic storm. It will be named Murasu, a name suggested by India, once it reaches the required intensity.
IMD Bhubaneswar director Manorama Mohanty said Odisha was likely to experience a relatively lower impact because the projected path lay further south, towards Andhra Pradesh. However, authorities are concerned that additional rain could disrupt relief operations and delay the restoration of roads, electricity and other essential services in areas already affected by Arnab.
The IMD has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain in Ganjam and Gajapati districts on Monday. Both districts are still recovering from severe flooding. An orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain has been issued for Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on Tuesday. Khurda, Puri, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi are under a yellow warning for heavy rain.
The forecast for Andhra Pradesh includes wind speeds of 80-90 kmph, with gusts up to 100 kmph, on Monday. Along and off the south Odisha coast and over the northwest Bay of Bengal, squally winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely from the evening of November 2. Winds could increase to 50-60 kmph, with gusts up to 70 kmph, from early November 3 before gradually weakening.
Sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough off the south Odisha coast from the evening of November 2 until the afternoon of November 4. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the northwest Bay of Bengal or along and off the south Odisha coast during this period. They have also been advised to avoid the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal from November 1.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation at the special relief commissioner’s office on Saturday and directed departments to intensify preparations. Officials have been asked to keep evacuation arrangements, cyclone shelters, food, drinking water and medicines ready. The chief minister also ordered the restoration of electricity, roads and other essential services in Arnab-affected areas on a war footing.
Rescue operations were continuing at landslide-hit locations, with the National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, fire services, the Special Operations Group and the Indian Navy involved in the response. The Navy was airlifting an advanced Seismic Life Detection Unit to the landslide site at G Udayagiri in Kandhamal district. The equipment can detect biological signs beneath soil and debris, where people are feared trapped.
Revenue minister Suresh Pujari contacted Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to seek assistance for the rescue operation. The Railways assured support and began steps to send a chain pulley system to the difficult terrain. Majhi directed the agencies involved to prioritise the search for missing people and the saving of lives.
State relief commissioner Rajesh Pabhakar Patil said the body of a 20-year-old missing man from Gajapati district was recovered from the Mahendratanaya river at Alarsingh under Rayagada block on Friday evening. The reported death toll rose to four, including three people earlier reported dead in a Kandhamal landslide. Twelve people remained missing in Ganjam district as authorities prepared for the next spell of rain.
