Heavy rains are falling in eastern India as Cyclone Murasu made landfall Tuesday in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone, which hit near Ongole in Prakasam district with maximum sustained winds of 100-110 kph (62-68 mph), is the second to affect the region in a week.
Ahead of the storm, authorities closed schools, halted train services, and canceled some flights in vulnerable areas. Thousands of people were evacuated to safety. The India Meteorological Department forecast heavy rain for several hours as the cyclone weakened.
Authorities have warned of potential flooding in low-lying areas and disruptions to daily life. A storm surge of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) was also possible along the coast, according to the IMD.
Last week, Cyclone Arnab battered parts of Andhra Pradesh, causing at least five deaths, damaging homes and infrastructure, and inundating approximately 200,000 acres of cropland. The Bay of Bengal, where Murasu formed, has historically been a breeding ground for powerful cyclones that have caused devastating storms in eastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.