Daijiworld Media Network - Amaravati

Amaravati, Nov 1: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a cyclone alert for the Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts after a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm 'Murasu'.

The storm is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between November 2 and 3, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall.

According to the IMD bulletin issued on Sunday afternoon, the deep depression intensified into cyclonic storm 'Murasu' over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.

Moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 23 kmph during the previous six hours, the system lay centred at 11.30 am on Sunday over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.

It was located approximately 560 km east-southeast of Chennai, 660 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 630 km east-southeast of Nellore, 640 km southeast of Machilipatnam and 680 km east-southeast of Ongole.

The IMD said the cyclone was very likely to continue moving west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning.

Thereafter, it is expected to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur as a severe cyclonic storm.

The landfall is likely between 11.30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts reaching 120 kmph, the IMD said.

This will be the second cyclonic storm to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast in less than a week.

Earlier, very severe cyclonic storm 'Arnab' crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapur during the early hours of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph.

The cyclone claimed seven lives and caused extensive damage to crops, roads, electricity infrastructure and telecommunications networks across coastal districts.

Thousands of acres of agricultural crops were damaged, while hundreds of electricity poles and trees were uprooted by the powerful winds.

According to preliminary estimates, the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab is pegged at around Rs 4,600 crore.

A Central government team is currently visiting Andhra Pradesh to assess the damage caused by the previous cyclone.