NEW DELHI (Xinhua): More than 20 flights were cancelled in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on Monday in the wake of severe cyclonic storm Murasu, officials said.
Amid heavy downpour, at least 11 flights were cancelled at Chennai airport in Tamil Nadu, while 10 flights were cancelled at Vijayawada International Airport in Andhra Pradesh.
Reports said the flight cancellations have affected passengers travelling to and from Chennai and Vijayawada. Passengers have been advised to check their flight status with the airline before proceeding to the airports.
According to officials, the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into severe cyclonic storm Murasu.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclonic Storm Murasu, over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, moved west-northwestwards and was centred about 120 km east-southeast of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, and 160 km northeast of Chennai.
The IMD said Murasu was very likely to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur around midnight, with wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph and gusts of up to 120 kmph. It was expected to make landfall in the early hours of Tuesday.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the southeast and southwest Bay of Bengal until Wednesday.
Thousands of people have been evacuated along the eastern coast.
Prakhar Jain, a senior official of Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, told local media that around 2,000 people have been evacuated and the process is underway.
In view of the forecast of heavy rain, the administrations of Tamil Nadu's Chennai and Tiruvallur have declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday. The IMD has issued an orange alert for six districts and a yellow alert for five districts in Telangana, warning of adverse weather conditions.
Authorities in Odisha have expedited the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas on Monday in the wake of Murasu.
The new cyclone comes days after Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were battered by cyclone Arnab.
In Odisha, the death toll from cyclone Arnab rose to six on Sunday, while 10 people remained missing. -- Xinhua
