In brief
Cyclone Murasu has caused more than 20 flight cancellations in southern India, disrupting travel to and from Chennai and Vijayawada. Authorities warn of strong winds and heavy rain, and have evacuated thousands along the coast. The cyclone is following the recent damage from Cyclone Arnab, and even the state chief minister has pulled a planned trip to New Delhi.
On Monday, the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh reported more than 20 flights cancelled at Chennai International Airport and Vijayawada International Airport as Cyclone Murasu intensified over the Bay of Bengal.
At Chennai, eleven flights scheduled to leave or arrive were grounded, while Vijayawada saw ten cancellations. Passengers travelling to or from the two major ports were advised to verify flight status with airlines before heading to the airports.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said the deep depression that had formed over the Bay of Bengal had strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm. At the time of the report, Murasu was located roughly 120 kilometres east‑southeast of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, and about 160 kilometres northeast of Chennai.
IMD forecasted the storm would move west‑northwest, crossing the south‑Andhra coast and generating wind speeds of 100 to 110 kilometres per hour with gusts to 120 kilometres per hour between Nellore and Narsapur. The department warned the system was likely to make landfall early Tuesday, and instructed fishermen to stay off the southeast and southwest bays until Wednesday.
In Andhra Pradesh, state disaster‐management officials said about 2,000 people were already evacuated from the most vulnerable coastal villages. The evacuations are ongoing as authorities prepare for the inevitable heavy rains and storm surge.
Responding to the forecast, administrators in Tamil Nadu’s capital city and around Tiruvallur declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on Monday to protect students during the weather event.
The IMD issued an orange alert for six districts and a yellow alert for five districts in Telangana, highlighting adverse weather conditions across a wider area than the storm’s immediate track.
Odisha’s authorities also began expediting evacuations from exposed low‑lying areas, a day after the state was hit hard by the earlier Cyclone Arnab. The death toll from that cyclone rose to six, with ten people still missing, according to Odisha officials.
The severe weather prompted the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, to cancel a planned visit to New Delhi. The change in schedule was announced by state media as the cyclone’s threats loomed over the region.
Travel and cargo carriers are reviewing flight schedules and have released waiver policies for passengers affected by the cancellations, following the disruptions caused by Cyclone Arnab along India’s east coast. Airlines advise passengers to keep an eye on updates through official airline channels as the storm continues to evolve.
With Cyclone Murasu following the damaged coast after Cyclone Arnab, officials remain vigilant. Residents, fishermen, and travelers are urged to heed local advisories, stay informed through the Indian Meteorological Department, and prepare for possible further disruptions.
