Cyclone Murasu: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha step up emergency measures as flights cancelled, heavy rain threatens

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have stepped up evacuations, placed disaster response teams on standby and prepared emergency services as severe Cyclone Murasu approaches the south Andhra Pradesh coast. The storm is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narasapur around midnight on November 2 and the early hours of November 3, bringing winds of 100-110 kmph and gusts of up to 120 kmph.

The preparations come as parts of the eastern coast are still recovering from Cyclone Arnab, which triggered floods and landslides in Odisha and damaged crops and power infrastructure. Officials are now working on two fronts: helping people affected by the previous storm while reducing the risk from Murasu.

Odisha has moved more than 1.60 lakh people to safety and plans to evacuate 3.33 lakh people by 10 pm on Monday. The government has prepared 1,139 shelters, while nodal officers have been appointed in villages to coordinate emergency measures. Loudspeaker announcements are being used to alert residents.

The focus is on Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Kandhamal, where heavy rain could worsen the impact of last week's cyclone. Around 1.50 lakh people have been shifted in flood-affected Ganjam. In Koraput, about 500 people have moved to permanent shelters, with 506 shelters kept ready and three already operational.

Officials have identified nearly 150 landslide-prone locations in Gajapati and are moving residents from vulnerable areas. Schools



and anganwadi centres in the five focus districts have been closed on Tuesday, with educational institutions in Malkangiri and Kandhamal shut on Wednesday as well.

More than 300 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Odisha Fire Service have been deployed. Teams that responded to Cyclone Arnab remain in position, while district collectors have been alerted.

Odisha says rescue work in areas affected by the earlier storm has picked up pace after three days without significant rainfall. Electricity has been restored in most affected areas. The state is also continuing its search for 10 people missing in a landslide as the weather worsens.

At least 19 domestic flights were cancelled at Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam airports on Monday. Chennai Airport also cancelled some flights and asked passengers to check with their airlines. Schools in Chennai were closed as heavy rain flooded parts of the city, with Chennai and Tiruvallur expected to remain at risk of very heavy rainfall.

The IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rain in several Andhra Pradesh districts through Tuesday, with further rain expected on November 4 and 5. Squally winds could reach 110 kmph on rainy days. The department has also warned that a storm surge of around 1.5 to 2 metres above astronomical tide could inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, particularly around Bapatla, Krishna and Prakasam.