Cyclone Murasu nears Andhra Pradesh coast as rescue teams deploy
Cyclone Murasu is moving toward the coast of Andhra Pradesh in India and is expected to hit land late Monday or early Tuesday, The Hindu and The New Indian Express report. Six national and seven state rescue teams are in place. Heavy rain is forecast in several districts.
Cyclone Murasu is heading toward the coast of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, The Hindu and The New Indian Express report. Six national and seven state disaster response teams are now in place in the districts likely to be hit, the outlets report.
The two outlets describe the expected landfall in different terms. The Hindu cites the state disaster agency. It says the storm will likely reach land close to Ongole early on Tuesday, November 3, with winds of 100 to 120 kilometers per hour. The New Indian Express says the storm will likely cross the coast between Nellore and Narsapuram around Monday midnight or early Tuesday. It puts winds at 100 to 110 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 120.
Murasu is the second cyclonic storm to hit Andhra Pradesh in less than a week, The Hindu reports. The New Indian Express calls it a severe cyclonic storm and says it may grow stronger.
Heavy to extremely heavy rain could hit six districts on Monday, including Krishna, Guntur and Nellore, the outlets report. Two districts, NTR and Guntur, shut schools and colleges for the day, The Hindu reports.
State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha met with disaster officials on Sunday and directed them to stay on high alert, The New Indian Express reports. She asked them to set up control rooms that run all day and night. She also asked them to move people in low-lying areas and weak houses to safe places. Prakhar Jain, who heads the state disaster agency, said people can report problems through a WhatsApp service or free phone lines.
What we know: Murasu is expected to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast by early Tuesday, and rescue teams are in place.
What we don't: Exactly where the storm will make landfall, and how much damage it will cause.
Where outlets agree The Hindu and The New Indian Express agree that six national and seven state disaster response teams have been deployed ahead of Murasu's landfall.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.