Cyclone Murasu LIVE updates: Cyclone wreaks havoc in coastal A.P.; no power disruptions reported so far

Cyclone Murasu crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kothapatnam in Prakasam district, close to Ongole, at 1 a.m. on November 3, 2026. Its landfall brought heavy rain and powerful winds across coastal areas. The process was expected to finish by 6:30 a.m.

Bapatla and Prakasam districts experienced extensive damage. Thousands of trees were uprooted, hundreds of electric poles were reportedly damaged, fishing boats were wrecked, and standing crops suffered. Water covered many places, while roads in Vijayawada, including Bandar Road and Polyclinic Road, became waterlogged.

Officials focused on preventing deaths and limiting property loss. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu told residents not to venture onto roads and asked officials to take precautions. A fisherman said about 400 families from his village had been evacuated. The government also activated the Mana Mitra WhatsApp helpline for emergency reports and civic disruptions.

A cyclone is a powerful rotating weather system built around a central area of low pressure. It can produce very strong winds, heavy rain, high waves, and flooding. The word is used for tropical storms in regions including the Indian Ocean. Cyclones can grow when warm seawater supplies heat and moisture to rising air.

A cyclone makes landfall when the storm’s centre crosses from the ocean onto land. This does not mean rain and winds stop immediately. Dangerous conditions can continue for hours as the storm moves inland. In Murasu’s case, officials reported landfall near Kothapatnam in Prakasam district at 1 a.m. on November 3.

The event caused heavy rainfall, gusty winds, fallen trees, damaged boats, crop losses, and waterlogging. Authorities urged people not to use roads and moved residents to safer places. The landfall also prompted emergency reporting through Andhra Pradesh’s Mana Mitra WhatsApp service.

The storm’s effects spread across coastal Andhra Pradesh and into parts of neighbouring Odisha. Bapatla and Prakasam saw heavy rain, gusty winds, crop damage, flooding, fallen trees, and wrecked fishing boats. Vijayawada also received heavy rain, with major roads such as Bandar Road and Polyclinic Road waterlogged.

The reported damage was extensive. Thousands of trees were uprooted, and hundreds of electric poles were damaged in coastal Andhra Pradesh. A fisherman described the storm as the most dangerous in 14 years. In Odisha, districts including Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, and Kalahandi reported light rainfall, while authorities moved more than 1.60 lakh people to safety.

The scale remained serious even where rainfall was lighter. Odisha deployed disaster-response teams in five southern districts and kept collectors prepared. Andhra officials monitored electricity infrastructure, and the Chief Minister was told that power supply remained uninterrupted, despite wider reports of pole damage.

Cyclone Murasu carried intense rain and strong winds as it crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast. The storm’s rain fell heavily over a short period, overwhelming roads and low-lying areas. Its winds pushed through coastal districts, uprooting trees and damaging structures and infrastructure. These hazards commonly occur together during a severe cyclonic storm.

The article records the results in several places. Bapatla and Prakasam had heavy rain, gusty winds, damaged standing crops, and widespread water. Thousands of trees fell, hundreds of electric poles were reportedly damaged, and fishing boats were wrecked. Vijayawada’s Bandar Road, Polyclinic Road, and parts of One Town became waterlogged.

The storm’s effects were worsened by its coastal crossing and continued rain during the night and early morning. Officials evacuated families, warned people to stay off roads, and coordinated emergency teams. The Mana Mitra system allowed residents to report outages, fallen trees, collapsed walls, waterlogging, and other urgent problems.

Government agencies responded at several levels. Andhra Pradesh officials evacuated families, warned residents not to use roads, reviewed conditions with district Collectors, and checked electricity infrastructure. Odisha kept collectors on high alert, opened shelters for people in hilly areas, moved more than 1.60 lakh people, and deployed disaster-response teams in five southern districts.

The Mana Mitra WhatsApp helpline added a direct public reporting route. Residents send “Hi” to 9552300009, select “Services,” choose “Murasu Cyclone Issues,” and tap “Report Issue.” They can report power outages, uprooted trees, collapsed walls, waterlogging, and other distress situations. The system is intended to support quick intervention and coordination.

These measures addressed both immediate safety and local damage. Shelters helped keep vulnerable residents away from dangerous weather, while response teams prepared for heavy rain and landslides. Officials also monitored power supply. The article reports that energy officials found no electricity disruptions during one review, despite broader reports of damaged poles.

A cyclone does not affect only the exact place where its centre crosses the coast. Its rain and winds can spread into nearby regions. Murasu made landfall on Andhra Pradesh’s coast, but southern Odisha recorded light rainfall as the storm influenced local weather. The State therefore remained on high alert.

Odisha’s concern was especially strong in hilly areas. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said landslides had become a major challenge. Collectors in Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and other districts reported rain. The government kept people from hilly terrain in shelters and moved more than 1.60 lakh people to safety.

Odisha also deployed disaster-response teams in five southern districts after an India Meteorological Department forecast of heavy rain and gusty winds. These preparations aimed to handle conditions that might worsen after landfall. The minister said officials hoped the situation would not become adverse, but the State continued monitoring the threat.

Tropical cyclones begin over warm ocean water when heat and moisture rise into the atmosphere. Rising moist air lowers pressure near the surface. Air then flows toward that low-pressure area, and Earth’s rotation helps organize the system into a spinning storm. As more moist air rises and condenses, it releases heat that can strengthen the circulation.

The ocean acts as the storm’s continuing energy source. A cyclone can therefore intensify while it remains over sufficiently warm water. Its organised circulation can carry heavy rain and powerful winds toward the coast. Murasu showed these effects when it brought rain, gusts, flooding, fallen trees, crop damage, and wrecked boats to Andhra Pradesh.

After moving over land, the storm is cut off from its warm-water supply. Friction from land also disrupts its circulation, while mountains and uneven terrain can weaken the system. Rain and strong winds may continue inland, however. That is why authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha kept residents sheltered and response teams ready after landfall.