Cyclone Murasu: Andhra Pradesh on High Alert

Why in News?

The Andhra Pradesh government issued a cyclone alert in five districts as Cyclone Murasu was expected to make landfall between Ongole and Nellore early Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast strong winds, extremely heavy rainfall and a possible storm surge along the coast.

Key Details of Cyclone Murasu

• Expected Landfall: Between Ongole and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.

• Expected Time: Early Tuesday.

• Wind Speed: Gusts of up to 120 kmph.

• Rainfall: Very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was anticipated in coastal areas.

• Storm Surge: A storm surge was expected north of the landfall point.

• Cyclone Intensity: The impact was expected to be less severe than that of the recent Cyclone Arnab, which was classified as a very severe cyclonic storm.

  

Districts Under Alert in Andhra Pradesh

The state government issued alerts in five districts that had previously reported rainfall deficits.

• Bapatla

• Palnadu

• Markapuram

• SPSR Nellore

• Prakasam

IMD Amaravati Weather Alerts

• Red Alert: Palnadu, Tirupati and Nandyal districts.

• Orange Alert: 12 other districts of Andhra Pradesh.

  

Disaster Management and Preparedness Measures

• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): Deployed 14 teams across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to carry out rescue and emergency operations.

• Electricity Infrastructure: Around 31,000 electricity poles were dispatched to support restoration work in cyclone-affected areas.

• Emergency Personnel: Approximately 1,000 personnel were mobilised for potential power restoration operations.

• State Preparedness: Authorities strengthened emergency response arrangements to minimise damage and ensure public safety.

Impact on Neighbouring States

• Tamil Nadu: Northern districts experienced heavy rainfall and squally winds due to the outer bands of Cyclone Murasu.

• Telangana: NDRF teams were deployed as part of emergency preparedness measures.

• Odisha: The state had earlier evacuated approximately 1.6 lakh people as part of cyclone-related disaster management efforts.

Important Terms

• Landfall: The process by which the centre of a tropical cyclone moves from the sea onto the land.

• Storm Surge: An abnormal rise in sea level caused mainly by strong cyclone winds pushing seawater towards the coast.

• Squally Winds: Sudden increases in wind speed lasting for a short period.

• Red Alert: Indicates the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall or severe weather requiring immediate precautionary measures.

Important Exam Facts

• Cyclone: Murasu

• State under major alert: Andhra Pradesh

• Expected landfall: Between Ongole and Nellore

• Maximum wind speed: 120 kmph

• NDRF deployment: 14 teams

• Electricity poles dispatched: 31,000

• Personnel mobilised: 1,000

• Red alert districts: Palnadu, Tirupati and Nandyal

  Naming of Cyclones

  • Cyclone Murasu: The name given to the tropical cyclone discussed in the news.

  • Naming Authority: Tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) are named by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC), New Delhi, operated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

  • WMO/ESCAP Panel: The naming system is maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

  • Member Countries: 13 countries participate in naming cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region.

  • Purpose of Naming:

    • Easy identification of cyclones.

    • Effective communication among meteorological agencies.

    • Better public awareness and disaster preparedness.

  • Naming Rule: Names are selected from lists submitted by member countries and used sequentially. Once a name is used, it is not reused.