Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall Near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh Braces For Heavy Rain

 Representative photo: Dark storm clouds over the sea (Pexels)

Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall Near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh Braces For Heavy Rain

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu made landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Tuesday, bringing powerful winds, heavy rain and a storm surge threat to coastal districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the landfall process began at 1:00 am near Ongole in Prakasam district, and the storm crossed the coast between Nellore and Narsapur between 3:30 am and 5:30 am.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh, which had been on high alert for two days, is now facing the heaviest phase of the storm's impact, with officials urging residents to stay indoors and follow official updates.

Landfall Overnight Near Ongole

According to the IMD, Murasu crossed the coast close to Ongole, at about 15.53 degrees north and 80.22 degrees east, moving north-northwestwards. At 5:30 am, the storm was centred over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, about 40 km southwest of Bapatla, 80 km north-northeast of Kavali and 120 km west-southwest of Machilipatnam.

Winds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph, were reported along and off the coast during landfall. The IMD expects the system to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm, with winds of 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, by noon on Tuesday, and further into a deep depression by midnight.

Heavy Rain And Storm Surge Warning

Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been forecast across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, with isolated extremely heavy showers in several districts, including Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, NTR, Palnadu, Tirupati and Chittoor. Heavy rain has also been reported in Puducherry and north Tamil Nadu.

The IMD has warned of a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the astronomical tide, which could inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh. Bapatla, Krishna and Prakasam districts are expected to face the maximum impact of the surge before it gradually weakens.

Flights Cancelled, Officials On High Alert

At least 19 domestic flights were cancelled at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati airports as the cyclone approached the coast. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to remain on high alert and ensure there is no loss of life.

The state government has set up a dedicated grievance mechanism for residents in affected areas. People can report power outages, uprooted trees, collapsed walls, waterlogging and other disruptions by messaging the WhatsApp number 9552300009. Fishermen have been advised to stay off the sea, with advisories in place until 4 November for most affected waters.

What Happens Next

As Murasu weakens over land, the immediate danger from wind will ease, but heavy rain, waterlogging and localised flooding remain a risk through Tuesday. Authorities are expected to focus on restoring power, clearing roads and assessing damage in the worst-hit coastal pockets.

Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain and strong winds, stay away from damaged power lines and flooded roads, and rely only on official IMD and state government updates rather than unverified messages on social media.

Cyclone Murasu is a reminder of how quickly weather over the Bay of Bengal can turn in November. With the storm now inland and weakening, the next few hours will show how well preparations held up along the Andhra coast.

Are you in coastal Andhra Pradesh or a neighbouring region? How is the weather where you are right now? Share your update in the comments.