A severe cyclonic storm named Murasu made landfall along the southern coastline of Andhra Pradesh, triggering ferocious winds and rough weather conditions across vulnerable coastal belts. The system moved in from the west-central Bay of Bengal, delivering intense squalls that tested local infrastructure and prompted emergency measures. Ground personnel from both national and state disaster response forces were mobilized across the impacted belt to safeguard residents and carry out necessary field operations.
Landfall Point and Wind Velocities
Official meteorological tracking showed that the storm crossed the coast in the vicinity of Ongole, situated between Nellore and Narsapur. Sustained wind speeds during this coastal crossing ranged between 100 and 110 kmph, accompanied by fierce gusts that reached up to 120 kmph. Over the preceding six-hour window, the cyclone had tracked in a north-northwest direction at a forward speed of roughly 8 kmph.
Observations recorded at 5:30 am on November 3 located the system near Ongole in coastal Andhra Pradesh. It lay roughly 40 km southwest of Bapatla, 80 km north-northeast of Kavali, 120 km west-southwest of Machilipatnam, and 130 km north of Nellore.
Expected Path and Weakening Trend
Forecasters anticipate that the system will maintain its north-northwesterly heading while shedding strength over land. By afternoon, the severe storm is predicted to downgrade into a standard cyclonic storm, with sustained wind speeds moderating to between 80 and 90 kmph and gusts peaking near 100 kmph.
The deterioration process is expected to continue into the night. Weather authorities noted that the system should further weaken into a deep depression by Tuesday midnight, diminishing the threat of destructive gale-force winds across inland districts.
Coordination and Central Disaster Support
In response to the emergency, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu via telephone to evaluate the ground reality. The discussions centered on the extent of damage and the immediate requirements of the impacted population.
Regarding the ongoing rescue and support work, the Home Minister stated, “Teams of NDRF and SDRF are already on the ground, assisting the affected people.” He affirmed that the Union Government remains firmly committed to extending every possible logistical and administrative backing to the state during this crisis.
