In brief
Cyclone Murasu hit India's Andhra Pradesh coast with winds up to 120 km/h on Nov. 3, 2026, following Cyclone Arnab that caused at least six to ten deaths. While the new storm uprooted trees and disrupted flights, it did not result in casualties, with power supplies largely intact. The event underscores the region's vulnerability to successive cyclones.
On the morning of November 3, 2026, Cyclone Murasu slammed into the southern coast of India, bringing wind speeds that peaked at 120 km per hour (about 75 mph) and delivering heavy rainfall to Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Tamil Nadu.
Murasu was the second cyclone to impact the region in a span of one week. The preceding storm, Cyclone Arnab, had already claimed a number of lives; the Japanese news agency Xinhua reported more than ten fatalities, while the Business Recorder cited at least six deaths, illustrating a discrepancy between sources on the human toll.
Despite the strong winds and damaging rainfall, local authorities report that no casualties have been recorded in association with Murasu. The cyclone, however, did uproot trees and damage several electric poles across affected districts, causing interruptions in the electrical grid only in isolated pockets.
Travel agencies and airport operators in the region reacted to the incoming storm by canceling or diverting over twenty flights, including a small number of international departures. Airports in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were alerted to the rough weather, and passengers were advised to remain indoors.
The disaster management department in Andhra Pradesh instructed residents to stay inside their homes and to secure loose objects that could become airborne. Power supplies remained largely normal across the affected areas according to local media reports, mitigating some of the storm’s potential disruption.
Scientists and meteorologists have noted that the rapid succession of Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu poses challenges for coastal resilience planning. The intensity of Murasu’s wind field aligns with the upper tail of the 2026 seasonal cyclone distribution in the Bay of Bengal, suggesting an increase in high‑wind events in the region.
Emergency response teams assessed damage to infrastructure after the cyclone passed. While the immediate count of injuries and deaths was zero, the event highlighted the need for early warning systems and robust construction standards to withstand repeated cyclonic pressure.
