Cyclone Murasu: Andhra Pradesh Evacuates Thousands
Andhra Pradesh is evacuating 30,000 people from coastal areas as Cyclone Murasu nears, with landfall expected near Ongole as a severe cyclonic storm.
The Cliff News | 2 November 2026
Authorities in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh have initiated large-scale evacuations from vulnerable coastal areas as Cyclone Murasu tracks towards the region. The move comes as the state continues its recovery efforts following a devastating cyclone that struck last week.
As of Monday, approximately 2,000 people had been evacuated. Prakhar Jain, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, informed Reuters that the objective is to evacuate a total of 30,000 individuals.
Cyclone Murasu Landfall Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Cyclone Murasu is likely to make landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh coast. The projected crossing point is between Nellore and Narsapur, near the town of Ongole. The estimated time for landfall is between 11:30 PM on Monday and 4:00 AM on Tuesday (local time).
The IMD stated that the cyclone is expected to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm, bringing wind speeds of approximately 100 to 110 kilometres per hour. Gusts could reach up to 120 km/h, posing a significant threat to coastal communities.
Preparedness and Response Efforts
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to be fully prepared for the cyclone's impact. Initial estimates suggest that between 6,000 and 8,000 electrical poles could be damaged, creating a "severe threat to power supply" across the affected districts.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan highlighted on X that the cyclone is anticipated to have a severe impact on the districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, and Krishna. To manage the potential crisis, six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and seven State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed in advance, according to Prakhar Jain, as reported by IANS.
Additionally, three NDRF teams have been dispatched from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, as per ANI news agency.