Cyclone triggers evacuations on east coast

A man stands under an umbrella next to fishing boats moored at a fishing harbour as it drizzles, ahead of Cyclone Murasu's expected landfall, in Chennai, India, November 2, 2026. REUTERS/Riya Mariyam R

Heavy rains fell in eastern India after the second cyclone to hit the area in a week prompted evacuations of thousands of people.

Cyclone Murasu made landfall yesterday morning near Ongole in Prakasam district of Andhra Pra­desh state with maximum sustai­ned winds of 100-110kph, the India Meteorological Depart­ment (IMD) said.

Heavy rain was forecast for several hours as the cyclone weakened.

Ahead of the storm, authorities closed schools and halted train services and some flights in the vulnerable areas.

Thousands of people were also evacuated to safety.

Authorities warned the rain could cause flooding in low- lying areas and disruptions to daily life.

A storm surge of up to 1.5m was possible on the coast, the IMD said.

The storm formed over the Bay of Bengal, where the warm waters have spawned some of the dead­liest cyclones to hit eastern India, Bangladesh and Myan­mar.

Cyclone Arnab battered parts of Andhra Pradesh last week, killing at least five people, damaging homes and infrastructure and inundating over 80,000ha of cropland. — AP