Thousands evacuated as India braces for second cyclone in a week

Cyclone Murasu is forecast to make landfall on India’s southeast coast. The expected crossing point lies between Nellore and Narsapur, near the town of Ongole in Andhra Pradesh. The timing matters because it gives communities only a short window to evacuate and secure essential services.

The India Meteorological Department expects landfall from 11:30pm Monday to 4am Tuesday. It classifies Murasu as a severe cyclonic storm, with sustained winds around 100–110 km/h. Gusts could reach 120 km/h, making the storm dangerous for people, buildings, trees, boats, and power infrastructure.

Authorities have already begun moving residents from low-lying coastal areas. Schools are closed in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. Rain is expected across several states until Wednesday, even as Murasu weakens after reaching the coast.

A cyclone is a large, organized weather system that rotates around a low-pressure center. It usually forms over warm tropical oceans and draws energy from heat and moisture. Its danger comes from a combination of strong winds, intense rain, high waves, and possible coastal flooding.

An ordinary storm may be smaller, shorter-lived, or less organized. A cyclone has a circulation covering a much wider area and can maintain powerful winds for many hours or days. Murasu is classified as a severe cyclonic storm, with winds of 100–110 km/h and gusts up to 120 km/h.

The distinction matters because cyclones require broad preparations. In this case, authorities are evacuating coastal residents, closing schools, warning fishermen, and deploying disaster-response teams. The article does not provide a formal definition, but these actions reflect the wider threat posed by a cyclone.

Andhra Pradesh authorities are planning a large evacuation because Murasu is approaching vulnerable coastal communities. The target is about 30,000 people. Moving residents before landfall can reduce exposure to dangerous winds, flooding, falling debris, and disrupted emergency access.

By Monday, approximately 2,000 people had already been evacuated, according to Prakhar Jain of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority. The operation focuses on low-lying coastal areas, where storm rain and seawater can create especially dangerous conditions. Officials in coastal areas have also been ordered to remain at their posts.

The evacuation is still expanding as the storm approaches. Murasu is expected to affect Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, and Krishna districts severely. The scale of the planned movement shows that authorities are preparing for a regional emergency rather than a threat limited to one town.

When Murasu reaches the coast, strong winds and heavy rain could threaten people, homes, crops, transport, and essential services. Low-lying areas may become difficult to access, while damaged buildings, trees, or debris could create additional hazards. The article does not give a specific road-damage estimate, but severe coastal weather can disrupt roads and travel.

The clearest forecast concerns electricity. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said estimates suggested 6,000 to 8,000 electrical poles could be damaged. Fallen poles and lines could cause widespread outages and make repairs harder during continuing rain. The previous cyclone also destroyed dozens of homes and crops.

Rain is expected across parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh until Wednesday. Murasu is expected to weaken after the storm, but damage, flooding, and power interruptions could continue affecting communities and recovery efforts.

The timing makes Murasu especially dangerous. Cyclone Arnab hit the same coastline on Wednesday, only days before Murasu’s expected landfall. Its damage has left people, homes, farms, and public services more vulnerable to another round of severe weather.

Arnab killed six people and destroyed dozens of homes and crops. That recent experience explains the rapid evacuation planning, school closures, warnings to fishermen, and advance deployment of response teams. Officials also expect Murasu to affect several districts, including Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, and Krishna.

Murasu is expected to be less intense than Arnab, but that does not remove the danger. Rain will continue across parts of several states until Wednesday. Authorities must protect residents while also supporting communities that may still be dealing with earlier destruction and disrupted livelihoods.

The India Meteorological Department provides the central forecast. It identifies Murasu’s likely landfall area, timing, classification, wind speeds, and expected gusts. That information guides decisions by the state government and emergency agencies.

Disaster-response forces provide operational support. Six National Disaster Response Force teams and seven State Disaster Response Force teams were deployed in advance. Three national teams came from Tamil Nadu. State officials, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, prepare departments, estimate infrastructure damage, and direct wider emergency action.

Local authorities handle immediate community protection. They evacuate residents from low-lying coastal areas, close schools, warn fishermen, and keep coastal officials at their posts. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan identified districts facing severe impacts. Together, these roles connect forecasting, planning, rescue capacity, and local action before landfall.

Tropical cyclones begin over sufficiently warm ocean water. Heat causes seawater to add moisture to the air above it. As moist air rises, it cools and releases heat, which fuels more rising air. This process lowers pressure near the surface and can strengthen the storm’s circulation.

Air then flows toward the low-pressure center and rises in powerful thunderstorms. Earth’s rotation helps the incoming air curve, producing the cyclone’s broad spin. If the ocean continues supplying heat and moisture, the storm can grow. Strong winds become organized around the center, while pressure falls further.

A cyclone intensifies most effectively when winds higher in the atmosphere do not tear its structure apart. Murasu’s article does not explain formation physics, but it forecasts a severe cyclonic storm with 100–110 km/h winds. Its expected weakening after landfall reflects the loss of warm ocean energy.