Cyclone Murasu alert: Andhra CM Naidu orders full preparedness ahead of landfall tonight
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh is bracing for a second cyclone in under a week — this time, Murasu. CM Chandrababu Naidu has mobilised 31,000 electricity poles, 1,000 additional personnel from Chennai, and placed 6,800 tanks on watch across six districts. Palnadu could get 30 cm of rain tonight, but officials say Murasu's impact should be less severe than last week's cyclone Arnab.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Murasu is set to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on the night of 2 November 2026 .
CM Chandrababu Naidu chaired a preparedness review at the RTGS Centre, Amaravati , directing officials to ensure zero loss of life.
Palnadu is expected to receive the highest rainfall of around 30 cm ; Prakasam at 24 cm and Markapuram at 19 cm .
31,000 electricity poles deployed; 8,000 poles at risk from Murasu's winds; 1,000 personnel arriving from Chennai for power restoration.
Safety of 6,800 tanks across six districts being monitored; Water Users Associations activated under the Jaladhara programme .
Post-cyclone restoration works to be completed within 48 hours ; crop insurance and input subsidies to be expedited.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, 2 November 2026, directed the state administration to remain on full alert as cyclone Murasu is set to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast tonight. Naidu chaired a high-level review meeting on cyclone preparedness with senior officials and district collectors at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre at the Secretariat in Amaravati, stressing the need for robust measures to prevent any loss of life or property.
Scale of Impact and Rainfall Projections
The Chief Minister stated that the impact of cyclone Murasu on the Andhra Pradesh coast is likely to be relatively limited compared to cyclone Arnab, which crossed the coast last week. Forecasts indicate that wind speeds and rainfall intensity are expected to be lower this time. Moderate to heavy rainfall, however, is anticipated across South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts.
Officials informed Naidu that Palnadu district is projected to receive the highest rainfall of around 30 cm, followed by Prakasam at 24 cm and Markapuram at 19 cm. Krishna, Guntur, Eluru, and Nellore districts are each expected to receive up to 9 cm of rainfall.
Power Infrastructure and Restoration Measures
Officials briefed the Chief Minister that 31,000 electricity poles have been dispatched to the field from Srikakulam to Krishna district. Around 8,000 electricity poles in the South Coastal and Rayalaseema districts are estimated to be at risk from winds associated with cyclone Murasu.
An additional 1,000 personnel are arriving from Chennai to assist in power restoration work. Naidu directed officials to deploy them across various districts, including Nellore and Prakasam. The Chief Minister also set a target of completing all post-cyclone restoration works within 48 hours.
Water Management and Tank Safety
Naidu called for special attention towards water management, directing officials to fill tanks and reservoirs in Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, Nellore, and Markapuram — districts that have been experiencing a rainfall deficit. He instructed officials to formulate an action plan to store water in reservoirs across the South Coastal and Rayalaseema basins, leveraging the Jaladhara programme.
The Chief Minister directed special attention to the safety of 6,800 tanks across the six districts likely to be affected. He stressed the activation of Water Users Associations and called for public participation in monitoring tank conditions. Officials were also told to take preventive measures to avoid crop inundation due to silt accumulation in drains.
Recovery from Cyclone Arnab and Next Steps
Naidu noted that normalcy had been largely restored in areas impacted by cyclone Arnab, for which precautionary arrangements had been put in place from Srikakulam to Bapatla. He directed officials to replicate that preparedness model to effectively manage cyclone Murasu's impact.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to expedite crop insurance compensation and input subsidy processes for affected farmers. With landfall expected tonight, all district administrations have been put on standby as the state braces for a second consecutive cyclone within a week.
Point of View
But the real risk lies not in wind speeds but in cumulative soil saturation and tank stress after back-to-back rainfall events. Naidu's 48-hour restoration deadline is an accountability commitment that will be scrutinised if power and crop damage exceed official projections. The emphasis on water harvesting in rain-deficit districts is the one genuinely forward-looking element in an otherwise reactive playbook.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Cyclone Murasu make landfall in Andhra Pradesh?
Cyclone Murasu is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on the night of 2 November 2026. The state administration has been placed on full alert ahead of the landfall.
How severe is Cyclone Murasu compared to Cyclone Arnab?
Officials have indicated that Cyclone Murasu's impact is likely to be relatively limited compared to Cyclone Arnab, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast the previous week. Wind speeds and rainfall intensity are both forecast to be lower for Murasu.
Which districts in Andhra Pradesh will be most affected by Cyclone Murasu?
Palnadu is projected to receive the highest rainfall of around 30 cm, followed by Prakasam at 24 cm and Markapuram at 19 cm. Krishna, Guntur, Eluru, and Nellore are each expected to receive up to 9 cm of rain.
What measures has the Andhra Pradesh government taken for Cyclone Murasu?
The government has deployed 31,000 electricity poles from Srikakulam to Krishna district, mobilised 1,000 additional personnel from Chennai for power restoration, and placed 6,800 tanks under close watch. CM Naidu has directed all post-cyclone restoration to be completed within 48 hours.
What is the Jaladhara programme referenced in the cyclone preparedness review?
Jaladhara is an Andhra Pradesh government water conservation programme. CM Naidu directed officials to utilise works undertaken under Jaladhara to ensure no tank breaches occur during Cyclone Murasu and to store rainwater in reservoirs across rain-deficit districts.
