Preparations are underway following an emergency alert for severe cyclonic storm Murasu projected to impact Chittoor and Annamayya districts over the next 48 hours.
The core system as predicted by the met department is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narasapur. The sprawling outer bands of the cyclone are expected to reach the interior Rayalaseema region.
The 10th battalion of the NDRF is prepared to tackle the cyclone. Nearly 14 teams have been deployed at various locations in the in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to coordinate with local officials and undertake emergency responses and rescue operation.
As per the latest notice issued by the IMD, the cyclone is expected to cross the coast between 11:30 p.m. on November 2 and the early hours of November 3.
In its latest bulletin, the IMD said the system moved nearly west-northwards at a speed of 10 kmph , 100 km east-southeast of Nellore and lay centred over the same region at 02.30 pm IST on November 2.
Multiple districts in Andhra Pradesh have been receiving continuous rainfall. Bapatla, Nellore, Prakasam, Chittoor, Tirupati and other districts are under red alert for extremely heavy rain, while thunderstorms, squall and lightning have been reported across Amaravati.
Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu on Monday directed officials to remain alert as moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across the south-central Andhra and Rayalaseema district. In a review meeting, the CM said the impact of Murasu on the southern state’s coast is likely to be limited as forecasts indicated that wind speeds and rainfall intensity are expected to be lower compared to Cyclone Arnab.
The cyclone posing a potential threat to the pilgrim movement in Tirumala, TTD additional executive officer C H Venkayya Chowdary has directed officials to step up precautionary measures to ensure uninterrupted darshan, shelter, distribution of food and safety of devotees throughout the pilgrimage.
At least 19 domestic flights have been cancelled across three airports in Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam due to the storm. Vijayawada airport director M Lakshmikantha Reddy said IndiGo airline had cancelled ten flights and Air India Express cancelled two of them.