Published Nov 03, 2026 | 2:19 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 03, 2026 | 2:19 PM
Cyclone Murasu: Rains set to continue for two more days. (Supplied)
With Cyclone ‘Murasu’, making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kothapatnam in Prakasam district in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 November, torrential rains are lashing several districts, including Prakasam and Bapatla.
Officials briefed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that the cyclone struck the coast around 1:00 AM past midnight and was projected to completely cross the coastline by 6:30 AM. Gale-force winds of 100–110 km/h, gusting up to 120 km/h, were expected during the landfall process.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has been continuously monitoring the situation. At 3:30 AM, he held another teleconference with district collectors and top officials to assess field-level conditions.
He directed officials to ensure people in cyclone-hit areas remain indoors and ordered personnel to exercise vigilance to prevent any loss of life. Reviewing the condition of electrical infrastructure and substations, energy department officials informed the chief minister that no power poles had collapsed so far and power supplies remained intact.
Chandrababu emphasized the need to minimize property damage and urged the public to strictly adhere to government advisories until the storm subsides.
Also Read: Severe cyclonic storm ‘Murasu’ nears Andhra coast; Likely to make landfall near Ongole on Tuesday
The Chief Minister alerted officials that rainfall had intensified in Prakasam and Bapatla districts, noting that the subsequent 4 to 5 hours were critical. He indicated that downpours would persist across Bapatla, Guntur, Prakasam, Palnadu, Krishna, NTR, Eluru, and West Godavari districts. Given the heavy rainfall logged across 21 urban areas, he ordered collectors and municipal commissioners to keep field machinery on high alert.
Although meteorologists anticipate the storm’s intensity to abate completely by Tuesday night, the chief minister directed teams to remain primed for relief efforts, as rain forecasts extend over the next two days.
He emphasized prioritizing drinking water supplies, power restoration, and road connectivity, commanding that officials must not rest until relief reaches the last affected citizen.
The Bapatla District Collector briefed the chief minister that uprooted trees at two locations were cleared immediately, noting that rain intensity remained high in Repalle, Chirala, and Vetapalem.
Nellore Collector Himanshu Shukla reported that fallen trees across seven locations were removed and that the district was currently experiencing moderate rainfall.
Ongole Collector Rajababu stated that teams acted immediately upon receiving reports of fallen trees across five areas.
In Krishna district, heavy downpours were reported in Avanigadda and Nagayalanka. In Guntur district, despite rainfall recorded across all mandals, the collector noted that no incidents of uprooted trees or collapsed electric poles occurred.
NTR District Collector Lakshmisha reported light drizzles across parts of the district, adding that inspections were conducted along the Budameru stream, where conditions remain stable for now.
As a precaution against potential landslides in Moghalrajpuram, several families were evacuated to relief camps. Officials in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district stated that normalcy prevailed despite rain during the night.
Widespread rainfall hit multiple districts across the state due to Cyclone Murasu. Between 8:30 AM Monday and 5:00 AM Tuesday, Bapatla district recorded the highest average rainfall at 40.02 mm, followed by Prakasam at 26.56 mm, West Godavari at 23.36 mm, Krishna at 23.15 mm, Guntur at 19.09 mm, Srikakulam at 18.30 mm, Konaseema at 14.47 mm, Tirupati at 12.37 mm, and Kakinada at 11.72 mm.
Notably, between 10:00 PM Monday and 5:00 AM Tuesday, Kothapatnam in Prakasam district received the highest localized rainfall at 164.25 mm. In the same district, N.G. Padu recorded 114.19 mm and Throvagunta 91.95 mm, while Chirala in Bapatla district logged 99.59 mm. West Godavari’s Mogalturu registered 79.34 mm, and Malkipuram in Konaseema recorded 74.75 mm.
Weather authorities anticipate heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next four days across Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, Palnadu, NTR, Eluru, and West Godavari districts, with isolated extremely heavy spells. Moderate to heavy rains are also forecast for East Godavari, Polavaram, Kakinada, Konaseema, Prakasam, and Markapuram districts.
Also Read: Cyclone Murasu crosses southern Andhra with wind speed of upto 120 kmph
In view of the storm, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu held a teleconference with senior irrigation officials, including Special Chief Secretary Shashi Bhushan, Advisor Venkateswara Rao, ENC Narasimha Murthy, Chief Engineers, and Superintending Engineers.
With intense rains falling across Palnadu, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Krishna, Eluru, and West Godavari districts, the Minister instructed irrigation authorities to maintain round-the-clock field inspections. He directed special scrutiny on the Repalle Main Drain, Bhattiprolu Main Drain, Guntur Nalla Drain, Kolimerla, Nallamada, Parchur Vagu, Romperu Right and Left Canals, Budameru, Lajjabanda, and Chandraiah drains.
The Minister mandated the clearance of water hyacinth and debris to maintain unimpeded discharge through drains and canals. Given the risk of flash surges along streams and drains like Gundlakamma, Budameru, and Ramavaram, he urged constant monitoring. He ordered close inter-departmental coordination among the Irrigation, Revenue, and Disaster Management wings to avert damage to crops and property.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah telephoned Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to inquire about the impact of Cyclone Murasu, assessing the ground damage and ongoing relief efforts.
Chandrababu briefed him on the compounded difficulties faced by the state, having weathered Cyclone ‘Arnab’ just prior to the arrival of Cyclone ‘Murasu’.
He apprised the Union Minister of the damage to crops and assets across several districts. While expressing gratitude for dispatching a central team to evaluate the losses, the CM appealed for adequate central financial assistance to support the state through consecutive cyclones.
Also Read: After Arnab, Andhra Pradesh braces for another cyclonic storm
The Chief Minister commended administrative teams, acknowledging the synchronized efforts of senior administrators and ground personnel alike throughout the cyclone.
After directing operations during a 10:00 PM teleconference on Monday, he continued gathering hourly situational updates through the night. Stationed at the RTGS command center on Monday, he reviewed conditions and led three separate teleconferences with department heads, district collectors, and field teams.
The CM instructed that power, water, and road restoration efforts be accelerated as soon as the cyclone subsides. Noting that the rapid administrative response provided reassurance to affected communities, he expressed appreciation to everyone engaged in the operations.
District collectors also briefed the Chief Minister that, alongside ongoing relief operations, arrangements for vote counting in the local body elections were proceeding in the affected regions.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
