In brief
Cyclone Murasu struck Andhra Pradesh on 3 November 2026, shedding light on escalating cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal. Different outlets highlight the scale of damage, evacuations and government responses; no casualties have yet been reported. The weather service foresees continued heavy rain.
Cyclone Murasu made landfall near Ongole in Prakasam district on the eastern coast of India on 3 November 2026, arriving at approximately 1 a.m. local time (19:30 GMT on 2 November). The severe cyclonic storm uprooted trees, toppled power poles, and flooded low‑lying areas in Andhra Pradesh, prompting authorities to begin evacuations of about 30,000 residents.
Al Jazeera highlights the storm’s impact on infrastructure, noting many electricity poles were damaged and fishing boats wrecked. The report states the cyclone is the second to hit the region in a week, following Cyclone Arnab, and that standing crops were struck and many areas were underwater. It also references extensive damage in Prakasam and Bapatla districts.
Prakhar Jain, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, told Reuters that no deaths or injuries have been reported so far, although "some trees and electricity poles have been uprooted."
Krishnamma, a fisherman from Kothapatnam in Prakasam district, told PTI that about 400 families in his village had been moved out before the storm struck, calling it "the most dangerous cyclone we have witnessed in the last 14 years."
Reuters’ brief report, found in a search note, notes that the IMD said the cyclone "crossed the coast of Andhra Pradesh between 03:30 and 05:30," and that heavy to very heavy rain was expected across several districts through the day.
Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted that he had spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu about the cyclone’s impact and assured that the central government would provide all kinds of assistance. He added that national and state disaster response teams were already on the ground.
While Al Jazeera focuses on the structural damage, the Reuters note emphasizes the timing of the storm’s crossing and the forecasted rainfall intensity. Both outlets agree that authorities are evacuating 30,000 people, but only Al Jazeera provides specific figures on the number of trees felled and power poles damaged.
DW reports that the cyclone left a trail of destruction and that weather agencies warned of heavy rainfall in the next 12 hours, underscoring the likelihood of continued flooding and power outages in the region.
Cyclone Arnab had struck earlier in the week, causing significant damage to coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The back-to-back storms have raised concerns about the region’s vulnerability to increasingly frequent and intense cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal.
Overall, Murasu’s landfall has resulted in widespread tree loss, power infrastructure damage, and flooding, with emergency services actively relocating residents. No casualties have been confirmed, and relief efforts continue as officials prepare for ongoing heavy rains and potential secondary effects, such as water‑borne diseases and crop damage.
