In brief
Cyclone Murasu escalated into a severe cyclonic storm, leading to the cancellation of at least 21 scheduled flights in southern Indian states. Authorities issued orange and yellow alerts, advised fishermen to stay off the sea, and evacuated thousands of residents, including over 2,000 people from Andhra Pradesh. The storm follows the recent impact of Cyclone Arnab in the region.
On Monday, the sudden intensification of Cyclone Murasu forced more than twenty scheduled flights to be cancelled across Tamil Nadu and neighboring Andhra Pradesh, disrupting travel plans and prompting large‑scale evacuations along the eastern coast of India. According to officials, at least 11 flights were grounded at Chennai airport, while 10 flights were cancelled at Vijayawada International Airport, affecting passengers traveling to and from both cities. Travelers were urged to verify flight status with their carriers before heading to the airports.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) described Murasu as a deep depression that had strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm. The system, located roughly 120 km east‑southeast of Nellore and 160 km northeast of Chennai, was projected to move northwestward, with wind speeds between 100 and 110 km h−1 and gusts up to 120 km h−1 expected near the coast during the night. The IMD issued an orange alert for six districts and a yellow alert for five districts in Telangana, warning of heavy rain and dangerous winds.
In response to the looming threat, authorities advised fishermen to remain off the sea in both the southeast and southwest Bay of Bengal until Wednesday. The advisory was intended to prevent maritime casualties as the storm approached the coast and the potential for significant wave action increased.
Prakhar Jain, a senior official of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, told local media that around 2,000 people have been evacuated and the process is underway.
"Around 2,000 people have been evacuated and the process is underway," said Jain.
In Tamil Nadu, the administrations of Chennai and Tiruvallur declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday to mitigate the impact on students and staff amid the forecast of heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, authorities in Odisha expedited the evacuation of residents from vulnerable coastal areas, underscoring the widespread regional response to the cyclone’s threat.
This cyclone follows the passage of Cyclone Arnab, which on Sunday resulted in six deaths and left ten people missing in Odisha. The successive impact of these storms has heightened the urgency of disaster preparedness measures across both states, as officials and meteorologists aim to reduce potential loss of life and property damage.
