Cyclone Murasu Strikes India's East Coast, Second Storm in Just One Week

Heavy rains, widespread damage and mass evacuations follow another destructive cyclone in India
Cyclone Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal, a region known for producing some of the deadliest cyclones to strike South Asia.
Cyclone Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal, a region known for producing some of the deadliest cyclones to strike South Asia.[Social Media]
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Cyclone Murasu struck India's eastern coast early Tuesday, bringing heavy rainfall, flooding and widespread infrastructure damage to Andhra Pradesh, just days after another cyclone battered the region.

The storm made landfall near Ongole in Prakasam district with sustained winds of 100-110 kilometers per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Authorities evacuated thousands of residents as the second cyclone in a week threatened further disruption across eastern and southern India.

Widespread Damage and Evacuations

The storm uprooted thousands of trees, damaged hundreds of electricity poles and destroyed fishing boats across Prakasam and Bapatla districts, according to the Press Trust of India.

Floodwaters submerged low-lying areas and damaged standing crops, compounding losses from the previous cyclone.

Authorities began evacuations Monday, with plans to relocate approximately 30,000 people across Andhra Pradesh.

Around 400 families were evacuated from Kothapatnam village before landfall.

Schools were closed, while train services and some flights were suspended in vulnerable areas.

Officials reported no deaths or injuries from Murasu as of Tuesday.

Further Rainfall Threatens Region

The IMD warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall could continue across several districts as Murasu weakened.

Coastal communities also faced the possibility of storm surges reaching 1.5 meters.

Rainfall extended into neighboring Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu expected to experience the worst conditions.

The cyclone followed Cyclone Arnab, which struck Andhra Pradesh the previous week, killing at least five people, damaging homes and infrastructure, and flooding approximately 200,000 acres of cropland.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah contacted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and pledged central government assistance.

National and state disaster response teams were deployed to affected areas as authorities continued assessing damage and managing flood risks.

Cyclone Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal, a region known for producing some of the deadliest cyclones to strike South Asia.
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