AMARAVATI: Cyclone Murasu made landfall along the coast of Ongole in Andhra Pradesh, with its eye crossing the shore around 4:00 AM. Severe winds and torrential rains continue to lash Ongole and surrounding areas. Authorities had earlier evacuated residents from vulnerable regions in Nellore, Krishna, Prakasam, and Bapatla districts. Meanwhile, heavy rain alerts have been issued for Tamil Nadu, with a yellow alert declared across seven districts and Puducherry, including Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Salem. However, previous rain warnings for Chennai and Thiruvallur have been withdrawn. As a precautionary measure, 19 flights originating from Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam have been cancelled, alongside the suspension of several coastal train services.
Concurrently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that isolated heavy spells of rain will persist in Kerala due to the cyclonic system over the Bay of Bengal. A yellow alert has been issued for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts. While no special weather warnings are in place for the subsequent two days, a yellow alert will return on Friday for Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts. Authorities have also warned of potential lightning strikes accompanying the rains. Fishermen operating along the coasts of Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Karnataka are currently not under any fishing restrictions.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com