Cyclone 'Murasu' forms over Bay of Bengal, southern Odisha on high alert

BHUBANESWAR: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday intensified into cyclonic storm 'Murasu', prompting the Odisha government to step up preparedness in the southern region of the state, officials said.

In its latest bulletin, the IMD said cyclone 'Murasu' has formed over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on November 3.

Cyclone 'Murasu' (war drum), named by India, is "set to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the land in Andhra Pradesh coast with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph between Nellore and Narsapur by morning of November 3," it said.

Odisha's Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government has already announced a high alert in the southern region.

The government has also ordered the evacuation of people from low-lying areas and hilly terrain.

Director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Manorama Mohanty, said Odisha will receive rainfall from November 2, and the intensity of rain will increase on November 3 and November 4 under the influence of the cyclone.