Cyclone 'Murasu' forms over Bay of Bengal, IMD issues coastal alert
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Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh has been placed on cyclone alert after a weather system over the Bay of Bengal developed into Cyclone Murasu, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a possible landfall along the state's southern coast between November 2 and 3.
The storm is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic system by Monday morning before moving towards the coast. The IMD has forecast wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph, when it crosses between Nellore and Narsapur.
In its Sunday afternoon bulletin, the weather agency said Murasu was centred over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal at 11.30 a.m., approximately 560 km east-southeast of Chennai and 660 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam.
The cyclone is expected to move northwestwards before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast between late Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday.
Murasu is the second cyclone threatening the Andhra Pradesh coast within a week. Cyclone Arnab struck near Narsapur on October 28, claiming seven lives and causing extensive damage to agriculture, roads and power and telecommunications infrastructure.
Preliminary assessments have put the losses from Arnab at Rs 4,600 crore. A Central government team is currently in the state to evaluate the damage.
With IANS inputs