Cyclone Murasu: 12 flight services cancelled at Vijayawada; Visakhapatnam flights hit

Cyclone Murasu disrupted air travel at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam because the storm threatened dangerous wind, rain, and airport operating conditions. Vijayawada’s Krishna district was placed on red alert, and the storm was expected to cross the Andhra coast overnight. Airlines cancelled services to reduce risks to passengers, crews, and aircraft.

At Vijayawada, Air India Express cancelled two round-trip services linking Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad. IndiGo cancelled services connecting Vijayawada with Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Kurnool, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. At Visakhapatnam, five IndiGo flights were cancelled. The morning Mumbai and Chennai flights landed more than three hours late, while their returns were shown as diverted.

The disruption was not identical at every airport. Most other Visakhapatnam services, including flights to Delhi, Bengaluru, and Abu Dhabi, were operating. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines because weather conditions and operational decisions could change as Murasu moved toward landfall.

In India’s weather classification, a severe cyclonic storm is a tropical cyclone with sustained winds of roughly 89 to 117 kmph. It is stronger than a cyclonic storm and can produce destructive winds, very heavy rain, coastal flooding, and dangerous seas. Murasu was described as a severe cyclonic storm, with gusts potentially reaching 120 kmph.

Landfall is the moment a cyclone’s centre crosses the coastline from water onto land. The exact crossing location matters because nearby districts can face the strongest winds and rain. It does not mean bad weather ends immediately; rain bands and strong winds may continue before and after the centre passes.

The article reported that Murasu was expected to cross between Nellore and Narsapur, south of Ongole, between 11.30 p.m. on November 2 and 4 a.m. on November 3. This forecast explains the red alert and flight cancellations in nearby areas.

The article’s clearest total is twelve cancelled flight services to and from Vijayawada, operated by IndiGo and Air India Express. It separately reports five cancelled IndiGo flights at Visakhapatnam. It also mentions delays and diversions, but does not provide one combined total for every affected flight across both airports.

At Vijayawada, routes were affected to or from Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Chennai, Tirupati, Kurnool, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Air India Express cancelled two round trips: Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada–Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad–Vijayawada–Hyderabad. IndiGo listed multiple services on the same city pairs.

At Visakhapatnam, cancelled IndiGo flights involved Hyderabad, Tirupati, and Vijayawada. Morning flights from Mumbai and Chennai arrived more than three hours late, and their return flights were shown as diverted. Another Hyderabad flight was delayed, while services to Delhi, Bengaluru, and Abu Dhabi continued.

Cyclone Murasu was expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, south of Ongole. The predicted window was from 11.30 p.m. on Monday, November 2, to 4 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3. This placed coastal and nearby inland districts under serious weather risk.

At 8.30 a.m. on November 2, the India Meteorological Department said the storm was about 160 kilometres east-southeast of Nellore. It was moving west-northwest at 22 kmph. Those details helped show both the storm’s position and its direction of travel toward the Andhra coast.

Murasu was classified as a severe cyclonic storm. Its winds could gust up to 120 kmph. The expected track and strength prompted a red alert in Krishna district and contributed to flight cancellations and other airport disruptions at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Airlines may cancel, delay, or divert flights when a cyclone creates risks at an airport or along its route. Strong crosswinds can make takeoffs and landings unsafe. Heavy rain and poor visibility reduce operating margins. Flooding, debris, power problems, or damage can disrupt runways, taxiways, navigation equipment, and ground handling.

A flight can also be affected even if its departure airport remains usable. Its destination may be unsafe, or the aircraft may need to continue to another airport. Crews, passengers, fuel, and connecting aircraft can be out of position after earlier delays. These linked effects can produce cancellations and diversions across several cities.

The article shows why service can differ within the same region. Vijayawada had twelve services cancelled, while five IndiGo flights were cancelled at Visakhapatnam. Yet most Visakhapatnam flights to Delhi, Bengaluru, and Abu Dhabi were operating. Decisions therefore depend on local conditions, route safety, and airline assessments.

A red alert is the highest level of weather warning used by India’s meteorological warning system. It means authorities should expect dangerous or exceptionally severe conditions and take urgent protective action. For a district, that can include activating emergency teams, protecting vulnerable people, restricting travel, and coordinating transport and public services.

The India Meteorological Department helps by monitoring the storm and issuing technical forecasts. It provides the cyclone’s location, movement, expected landfall area, timing, classification, and wind estimates. For Murasu, the IMD reported its position at 8.30 a.m., its west-northwest movement at 22 kmph, and a possible landfall window.

Authorities use these warnings to prepare before impacts begin. In the article, Krishna district was on red alert, while airlines cancelled flights serving Vijayawada. Continued IMD updates could influence further airport, transport, and emergency decisions as the storm approached the coast.

A tropical cyclone begins over warm ocean water when moist air rises and thunderstorms develop around a low-pressure area. As water evaporates, it adds moisture to the air. When that moisture condenses into clouds and rain, heat is released, helping air rise faster and lowering pressure near the centre. Air then spirals inward, forming a rotating storm.

If the ocean remains warm and wind conditions allow the storm to stay organised, this process can strengthen the cyclone. Stronger circulation draws in more moist air and can produce faster winds. Storm strength is measured through sustained winds, while gusts can be higher. Murasu was classified as a severe cyclonic storm, with gusts up to 120 kmph.

After landfall, a cyclone usually weakens because it loses access to warm ocean water and faces friction from terrain. Dry air and disrupted circulation can weaken it further. However, heavy rain and strong winds may continue inland after the centre crosses the coast.