AMARAVATI: Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu crossed the coast near Ongole between 3.30 am and 5.30 am on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph at times, were recorded during landfall. Rain is lashing the southern coastal districts and other parts of the state, including Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Guntur and Krishna, as well as the undivided East and West Godavari districts.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a teleconference with district collectors at 3.30 am to review ground conditions. Officials told him the cyclone first touched the coast at Kothapatnam near Ongole at 1 am and would cross completely by 6.30 am.
Chandrababu directed officials to take utmost care to prevent any loss of life and to minimise damage to property. He also instructed them to ensure that people in affected areas stay off the roads. Power department officials told him that no electricity poles had fallen and that supply had not been disrupted anywhere. Collectors briefed the Chief Minister on conditions on the ground. In Bapatla district, heavy rain is being recorded, with Repalle, Chirala and Vetapalem the worst affected. Trees fell at two locations and were cleared immediately.
In Nellore, trees fell at seven locations, and in the Ongole area at five. Staff removed them promptly. Heavy rain was reported in Avanigadda and Nagayalanka in Krishna district. Guntur recorded rainfall but no damage. In NTR district, light showers are under way. Collector Lakshmisha said that as a precaution, some families were shifted to relief camps at Mogalrajapuram, where there is a risk of landslides.
Chandrababu has been stationed at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) since Monday, continuously monitoring the situation. Besides holding teleconferences at 10 pm and again in the early hours, he has been taking hourly updates from officials to supervise relief operations. Collectors also informed the Chief Minister that, along with cyclone relief measures, arrangements have been made for the counting of votes in the local body elections.