Severe Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall Near Ongole as Heavy Winds and Rains Hit Andhra Coast

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu commenced its landfall process along the south coastal region of Andhra Pradesh near Ongole at approximately 1:00 a.m. IST on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Official bulletins from the India Meteorological Department indicated that maximum sustained wind speeds at the landfall point ranged between 100 kmph and 110 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 120 kmph. Meteorologists expected the landfall process to last for two to three hours as the wall cloud region moved over the coastline.

By 3:00 a.m., the inner spiral band in the storm's northern sector had touched land while the cyclone moved north-northwestward. At that time, the system was centred roughly 30 km southeast of Ongole, 50 km northeast of Kavali, 70 km south-southwest of Bapatla, 100 km northeast of Nellore, and 140 km southwest of Machilipatnam. The storm had previously intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal after originating as a deep depression on Sunday, November 1.

Coastal Disturbances and Storm Surge Warnings

Weather officials warned of a storm surge measuring 1.5 to 2 metres above the astronomical tide, threatening to inundate low-lying coastal sectors in South Coastal Andhra Pradesh. P.L.N. Murthy, Head of the Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam, noted that the surge could breach coastal margins several hours prior to the core landfall, with peak impact anticipated across Bapatla, Krishna, and Prakasam districts. Heavy spells of rainfall were projected to persist over the region for at least 12 hours following the initial coastal crossing.

Gale-force winds damaged local infrastructure prior to the system's full arrival. In Prakasam district, a vehicle became stranded at Chintala village between Ongole and Kothapatnam when a tree collapsed across the road, prompting the deployment of a special administration team to execute a rescue and clear the thoroughfare. Strong winds were also recorded at the Ongole railway station. Prakasam District Revenue Officer B. Venkata Ramana issued an advisory requesting residents to remain indoors until the severe weather subsided.

Administrative Emergency Response and Citizen Help Services

In preparation for severe disruption, Prakasam District Collector P. Raja Babu conducted a midnight inspection of the command control room at the Collectorate to oversee emergency operations. District authorities directed maintenance teams to clear uprooted trees, address fallen power lines, and prioritize the rapid restoration of electricity in areas such as Kothapatnam. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu scheduled high-level teleconferences with District Collectors across affected regions to coordinate disaster management efforts.

To assist affected populations, the Real Time Governance Society introduced a grievance reporting setup through its 'Mana Mitra' platform. Residents can report power outages, fallen trees, collapsed walls, and waterlogging by messaging a dedicated helpline:

• Send a "Hi" message via WhatsApp to 9552300009.
• Select the "Services" option from the main menu.
• Choose "Murasu Cyclone Issues" and tap "Report Issue".
• Complete registration by providing essential contact, district, and mandal details.

Interstate Support and Transportation Cancellations

Interstate assistance was mobilized as neighboring states responded to the storm's progression. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that a specialized team from Karnataka was dispatched to Andhra Pradesh to support relief and power restoration. Meanwhile, the Odisha government initiated emergency evacuations in vulnerable coastal areas as the storm tracked across the Bay of Bengal.

Air travel experienced widespread disruption due to adverse weather conditions on Monday, November 2. At least 19 domestic flights were cancelled across three airports in Andhra Pradesh:

• Vijayawada Airport reported 12 flight cancellations, comprising ten IndiGo services and two Air India Express flights.
• Visakhapatnam Airport at Bhogapuram recorded four cancelled flights.
• Tirupati Airport logged cancellations by IndiGo for routes connecting Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Bengaluru.
• Chennai Airport in Tamil Nadu also cancelled 11 arriving and departing flights amid widespread local rainfall.

Precautions extended to coastal communities and major cultural sites. At Kothapatnam, located 18 km from Ongole, local fishermen hauled approximately 400 boats ashore as sea conditions grew increasingly rough. In Tirumala, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams instituted safety measures to protect pilgrims and ensure uninterrupted darshan and sheltered food distribution during the storm.