Flight operations in Chennai and across multiple airports in Andhra Pradesh experienced massive disruption on Monday, November 2, as severe cyclonic storm Murasu advanced toward the coastline. Deteriorating weather conditions prompted airlines to ground more than 20 scheduled flights, while IndiGo issued a comprehensive travel advisory warning passengers about widespread cancellations, prolonged delays, and unsafe atmospheric conditions across the region.
Gannavaram and Chennai Airports Face Multiple Groundings
Airport officials confirmed that Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada saw the cancellation of 10 IndiGo flights on Monday. Simultaneously, Chennai Airport registered 11 cancellations covering regional connections to Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kadapa, and Tiruchirappalli. These precautionary measures were put in place as authorities intensified readiness for the storm's anticipated landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh.
Regional air transit between Tamil Nadu and neighboring Andhra Pradesh bore the brunt of the schedule changes. Key sectors originating from Chennai were heavily affected, with regular services suspended on routes connecting Chennai to Vijayawada, Chennai to Rajahmundry, Chennai to Kadapa, and Chennai to Tiruchirappalli. Among the grounded services were three specific flights operating between Chennai and Vijayawada, namely IndiGo services 6E 7304, 6E 7305, and 6E 7306.
Disruptions Expand Across Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, and Tirupati
The operational footprint of Cyclone Murasu extended to several other active aviation hubs, creating delays and cancellations at Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, and Tirupati airports. IndiGo stated that incoming and outbound flight movements for Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, and Tirupati were directly impacted by severe adverse weather caused by the approaching storm system.
Passengers transiting through Visakhapatnam were specifically alerted by the airline regarding potential extended waiting periods, both while awaiting departure inside airport terminals and after boarding aircraft on the tarmac. IndiGo maintained that passenger and crew safety remains its foremost concern and highlighted that affected customers are receiving updates directly through the contact numbers registered during booking. Officials at Chennai Airport likewise urged travellers with cancelled tickets to reach out directly to their respective carriers for alternate bookings and operational guidance, noting that schedules remain fluid depending on real-time weather changes.
IMD Issues Multi-State Torrential Rainfall Alerts
The IMD has placed five states on alert, issuing heavy rainfall warnings for Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh as the core of Cyclone Murasu nears the shore. Coastal Andhra Pradesh is forecast to witness extremely heavy precipitation through Monday and Tuesday under the cyclone's direct influence.
Tamil Nadu is projected to receive heavy to very heavy spells of rain, while parts of southern Odisha are bracing for heavy to very heavy downpours scheduled to hit on Tuesday and Wednesday. Maritime alerts and safety warnings have been issued along coastal zones to minimize damage from gusty winds and storm surges.
Train Services Suspended and Educational Institutions Shut
Precautionary shutdowns quickly took effect across critical public sectors in vulnerable districts. In Chennai and Tiruvallur, authorities ordered all schools and colleges to remain closed on Monday to ensure student safety amid worsening weather and the threat of urban flooding.
Surface transportation also witnessed sharp cuts, with authorities suspending approximately 32 train services across cyclone-threatened corridors. Meanwhile, multiple prominent tourist destinations across Andhra Pradesh were either shut down entirely or placed under strict access restrictions to prevent travellers from entering danger zones during the storm.
Government Response and Infrastructure Safeguards
Addressing the imminent emergency, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu cancelled his scheduled visit to Delhi and instructed state administrative machinery to stay on high alert. The state leadership has prioritized rapid emergency response across all districts along the cyclone's projected trajectory.
Naidu warned that high-velocity winds could potentially damage between 6,000 and 8,000 electricity poles across affected areas. In response, he ordered power distribution agencies and field personnel to restore electricity supplies within 48 hours wherever lines collapse. Furthermore, Naidu held discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to coordinate interstate disaster assistance and align emergency management measures across state boundaries.
