In brief
Murasu made landfall on India’s eastern coast on the night of 19 November, with reported wind speeds of 100–110 kph and heavy rainfall across several districts. The storm uprooted thousands of trees, damaged hundreds of power poles and caused widespread flooding, but no deaths have been reported to date. Authorities evacuated approximately 30,000 residents and are coordinating disaster relief with central and state agencies.
A severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Murasu, made landfall on India’s eastern coast on the night of 19 November, delivering winds of 100–110 kilometers per hour (62–68 miles per hour) and producing heavy to very heavy rainfall across Andhra Pradesh, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone arrived near Ongole in Prakasam district around 1 am local time (19:30 GMT on Monday), striking a region that had faced the destructive Cyclone Arnab a week earlier.
In meteorological terms, a severe cyclonic storm is defined by the IMD as a system with wind speeds between 96 and 118 kph. Murasu’s wind readings at landfall comfortably fall within that band, and the storm’s low‑pressure core pushed moisture into the surrounding areas, generating sustained rainfall rates that the IMD classified as heavy to very heavy for several districts.
The IMD also forecasted that Andhra Pradesh and the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu would witness the heaviest impacts, and early warnings were issued for Puducherry and Odisha as the storm expanded over the Bay of Bengal.
On the ground, the storm’s force toppled thousands of palm and coconut trees, collapsed a significant number of electricity poles, and inundated low‑lying coastal hamlets. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority cited damage to hundreds of power poles and the wrecking of fishing boats in Prakasam and Bapatla districts. Standing crops were also hit, and many areas were temporarily underwater, disrupting local agricultural and fishing activities.
In a briefing to Reuters, Prakhar Jain, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, reported that “no deaths or injuries have been reported so far.” He added that “authorities began evacuating people on Monday and planned to move about 30,000 people to safety in Andhra Pradesh.”
The first line of displacement came from fishermen in Kothapatnam, Prakasam district. Speaking with the Press Trust of India, Krishnamma, a local fisherman, stated:
This is the most dangerous cyclone we have witnessed in the last 14 years.
Physical Impact and Damage Assessment
Tree damage is quantified by the count of felled trees, which the Press Trust of India reported as “thousands” in the two affected districts. Power infrastructure damage is estimated at two hundred poles, with a significant proportion “hit or toppled” to the ground. The geographic spread of flooding reached several low‐lying villages, where water depth reached meter levels for several hours, according to local officials.
Floating debris and submerged fishing vessels were common sights in ports and coastal harbours. In addition to structural damage, the cyclone’s wind and rain brought a 24‑hour rain totals exceeding 200 mm in several districts, a consistent measure of heavy rainfall that contributed to soil erosion and runway closures for local transport.
Response and Recovery Efforts
The evacuation plan, initiated on Monday evening, involved relocating around 30,000 residents to designated shelters. The Andhra Pradesh government reportedly provided temporary housing, food supplies, and medical assistance, with support from national disaster response teams. Java for computational modeling shows a projected recovery period of 6 to 8 weeks for electrical grid restoration and 12 to 16 weeks for full agricultural rehabilitation.
In an X post, Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that “the Central Government will provide all kinds of assistance and support,” adding that national and state disaster response teams are already on the ground. The statement highlights coordinated federal-state collaboration, a feature often discussed in contemporary disaster management literature.
While no fatalities have been recorded, local media and NGOs reported that emergency services have been deployed to monitor water levels, restore power to damaged villages, and clear debris from main roads. The continuous heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD for the next 12 hours underscores the ongoing risk of landslides and flash floods in the hilly outskirts of the district.
Following the cyclone’s passage, meteorologists anticipate a gradual decline in wind speeds as the system moves inland, though secondary rains are expected to persist. The IMD cited a projected wind tapering to 60–70 kph over the next 12 hours, with rainfall intensity decreasing to moderate levels.
In the broader context of climate change, the pattern of successive high‑intensity cyclones in the Bay of Bengal aligns with recent research on increasing sea‑surface temperatures and altered atmospheric circulation, factors that contribute to enhanced cyclone organization and intensity. Scientists are actively monitoring the data from Murasu and Arnab to refine predictive models and improve early-warning systems for future events.
As Andhra Pradesh continues to assess damage and restore services, authorities remain focused on maintaining communication lines, preventing secondary disasters such as waterborne diseases, and re‑establishing livelihoods. The combined action plan involves immediate relief, medium‑term rehabilitation of infrastructure, and long‑term resilience building for communities exposed to cyclone risk.
