Amaravati, Nov 2026 : Heavy rains continued to lash south coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday after severe cyclonic storm ‘Murasu’ crossed the coast in the early hours, bringing gusty winds, flooding and disruption to normal life.
The storm uprooted trees and electricity poles in several places, inundated low-lying areas and damaged crops. Power supply was disrupted in affected districts, though officials reported no loss of life.
Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narasapur between approximately 3.30 am and 5.30 am, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts reaching 120 kmph.
Widespread rainfall was recorded in Prakasam, Bapatla, Palnadu, Krishna, Eluru and West Godavari districts. Officials said the state had recorded an average rainfall of 20.38 cm since Monday, with Bapatla receiving 21 cm and Prakasam 20 cm.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in Bapatla, Guntur and Prakasam districts until Wednesday morning. Rough sea conditions were reported along the Bapatla coast due to high waves.
At Suryalanka beach, seawater reportedly surged around 50 metres inland. Officials said the average rainfall deficit in Andhra Pradesh had declined from 53 per cent to 28.9 per cent following rainfall brought by cyclones ‘Arnab’ and ‘Murasu’.
According to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), heavy rain is likely in Polavaram, Kakinada, NTR, Krishna, Bapatla and Palnadu districts in the coming hours. Moderate rainfall is forecast for Manyam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Konaseema and Eluru.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Murasu is likely to move north-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression by Tuesday midnight. It warned of extremely heavy rainfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and adjoining Telangana on Tuesday, followed by very heavy rainfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on Wednesday.
Residents in vulnerable areas have been advised to remain alert, monitor official weather updates and follow safety instructions.
Chief Minister reviews preparedness and impact
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the cyclone’s impact from the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre at the Secretariat. He sought details from officials on rainfall recorded across different regions and the intensity of winds.
Naidu said timely public alerts had helped save precious lives. He also said he had contacted his counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to seek cooperation in restoration efforts.
The Chief Minister directed officials to analyse incoming data and ensure that administrative systems function effectively. He stressed the importance of “data-driven decision-making” in all aspects of cyclone response.
Officials said the rainfall deficit had reduced by two percentage points over the past 24 hours, with a further two-point decline expected over the next five days.
Groundwater levels reportedly rose by 0.45 metres in a single day. Officials estimated that groundwater reserves could receive 20 to 30 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of recharge. Ponds and minor irrigation tanks were estimated to have received up to 10 TMC of water, while 7 to 8 TMC had reached reservoirs.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as heavy rainfall is expected to persist across parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.
