In brief
India evacuated around 2,000 people from vulnerable coastal areas ahead of Cyclone Murasu, which is expected to land early Tuesday. Officials plan to move up to 30,000 people as the nation recovers from Cyclone Arnab, which killed six and destroyed dozens of homes.
Bhubaneswar, India — With the eastern coastline still swaying from the wake of last week’s deadly Cyclone Arnab, authorities began moving residents out of vulnerable districts on Monday, a day before Cyclone Murasu is projected to hit the area. The move targets communities whose homes and farms have been battered by the earlier storm.
Cyclone Arnab struck the same stretch of coast in early November, claiming six lives and leaving dozens of houses and crops destroyed. The damages left many families without shelter or livelihood, compounding the urgency of the current evacuation effort.
According to officials, about 2,000 people have already been relocated to safer locations. Planners are ready to expand the number up to 30,000 if the situation demands, as commentary suggests that the region remains vulnerable.
Prakhar Jain, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, told Reuters that
About 2,000 people have been evacuated, and the process is continuing. We are planning to evacuate some 30,000 people.
The Indian Meteorological Department traced Cyclone Murasu to the Bay of Bengal, a hotspot for tropical cyclones that frequently threaten India’s eastern seaboard. The storm is expected to move westward, making landfall in the early hours of Tuesday.
States that stand in the cyclone’s path include Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where drainage systems and low‑lying villages have already suffered flooding during Arnab. Citizens in these areas are living under heightened risk.
Rescue teams have set up temporary shelters along major highways and in community centers, providing basic supplies and medical aid. Security forces have reinforced coastal barriers and cleared debris to protect potential shelters from storm surge.
Officials warn that Cyclone Murasu, while forecast to be less intense than Arnab, could still bring high winds and heavy rains that threaten life and property. The government expects the storm to strike early Tuesday, giving only a narrow window for late‑day evacuation.
Local officials urge anyone remaining in low‑lying regions to stay updated on weather updates and heed evacuation orders promptly. The state government has committed to a coordinated response to mitigate damage as the nation recovers from last week’s tragedy.
