Cyclone Murasu is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narasapuram from midnight into the early hours, prompting the deployment of three National Disaster Response Force teams from Arakkonam as authorities prepare for heavy rain and possible flooding.
The cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal after a low-pressure area developed over the southern Andaman Sea on October 29. The system moved west-northwest and intensified into a depression on October 31 before strengthening into a cyclone, according to a report by Dinamalar citing the India Meteorological Department’s forecast.
Murasu was moving at a speed of 25 kilometres per hour over the Bay of Bengal during the six hours covered by the report. The weather system was forecast to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narasapuram between midnight and the following early morning.
The forecast has placed Andhra Pradesh on alert for heavy rainfall. Such conditions can rapidly affect low-lying urban areas, roads, drainage networks and essential services, particularly in locations still dealing with the effects of an earlier storm. The report said relief and rescue arrangements had been kept ready across the state as a precaution.
Three NDRF teams left Arakkonam for Andhra Pradesh to support preparedness and emergency response. Each team comprises 30 personnel, taking the total deployment to 90 members. The teams are being sent ahead of the expected landfall so that rescue and relief operations can begin quickly if flooding or other storm-related disruptions occur.
The deployment comes less than a week after Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. According to the report, that storm brought extremely heavy rainfall and caused flooding in parts of the state. Recovery operations were still under way when Murasu developed over the Bay of Bengal.
The close succession of the two systems has increased the immediate pressure on local administrations and emergency agencies. Areas affected by earlier flooding may remain vulnerable because roads, drainage infrastructure and public facilities can take time to return to normal operation after a major rainfall event.
The NDRF teams from Arakkonam are expected to assist state authorities with rescue, evacuation and relief work if required. The next operational milestone is the cyclone’s forecast landfall between Nellore and Narasapuram, after which the extent of rainfall and flooding impacts will determine the scale of response needed.
