OMM Newsroom
Cyclone Murasu hit India’s east coast on Tuesday, with strong winds prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. It is the second deadly storm to strike the region in a week, AnewZ reports.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the severe cyclone made landfall in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh between 3:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. local time. Wind speeds reached 100–110 kph, with gusts of up to 120 kph.
Prakhar Jain, chief executive of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, said there were no reports of deaths or injuries. The cyclone brought down trees and electricity poles.
Authorities began evacuations on Monday and planned to move about 30,000 people in Andhra Pradesh, which lies in the cyclone’s direct path, to safe areas.
Cyclone Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal, where severe tropical cyclones are common. The IMD forecast that Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Tamil Nadu would bear the brunt of the storm.
Murasu is the second cyclone to hit the region within a week. Cyclone Arnab, which came before it, killed at least six people.
Arnab made landfall in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday and was classified by the IMD as a very severe cyclone.
