In brief
The article explains the meteorological developments behind Cyclone Murasu, its forecasted path and wind speeds, the transport disruptions including cancellations at Chennai and Vijayawada airports, large‑scale evacuation, and regional advisories issued by the Indian Meteorological Department.
Over 20 flights were canceled at Chennai and Vijayawada airports on Monday after Cyclone Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, according to officials, causing disruptions for passengers and prompting large‑scale evacuations along the eastern coast.
Storm Intensification and Forecast
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal had strengthened to a severe cyclonic storm, moving west‑north‑westward with its center about 120 km southeast of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh and 160 km northeast of Chennai.
IMD notes that Murasu’s main circulation is expected to cross the south‑Andhra coast in the early hours of Tuesday, carrying sustained winds of 100 to 110 km h⁻¹ and gusts up to 120 km h⁻¹.
In response, IMD issued an orange warning for six districts and a yellow warning for five districts in Telangana, alerting local administrations to prepare for heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge.
The agency also asked fishermen to avoid both the southeast and southwest regions of the Bay of Bengal until Wednesday, because the storm’s extreme winds could pose an immediate threat to vessels at sea.
Awareness of Murasu’s potential impact was heightened by its proximity to the recent cyclone Arnab, which had already battered Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and raised concerns over cumulative weather stress on the region.
Impact on Travel and Evacuations
At Chennai airport, 11 of the scheduled services were suspended, while Vijayawada International Airport cancelled 10 flights. Officials advised travelers to verify flight status before proceeding to the airports, as the storm’s sudden intensification could alter schedules.
Prakhar Jain, a senior official of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, said to local media that around 2,000 people had been evacuated and that the process was ongoing.
Additionally, the administrations of Chennai and Tiruvallur declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday to reduce the risk to students in the face of expected heavy rainfall.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu cancelled a planned visit to Delhi on Monday, citing the looming threat of Murasu as reported in a Sunday statement by the state government.
Following the disruptions caused by cyclone Arnab, airlines had introduced flight waiver policies, allowing passengers affected by weather‑related cancellations to rebook or claim refunds, a practice that could now be invoked again if further travel disruptions occur.
With the storm projected to make landfall along the Andhra coast within the next 24 hours, authorities remain on high alert, coordinating evacuations and issuing advisories while airlines monitor the situation to provide prompt updates to passengers.
