Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall on India's East Coast

Severe cyclonic storm Murasu began making landfall early Tuesday on India's eastern coast near Ongole in Andhra Pradesh, the India Meteorological Department said. It is the second storm to hit the region in a week.

Authorities evacuated thousands of people on Monday and planned to move about 30,000 people to safety in Andhra Pradesh as the storm approached. Winds were reported at 100 to 110 km/h, gusting to 120 km/h, with heavy rain and storm surge along low-lying coastal areas.

Fishing boats were ordered back to shore and coastal districts opened relief shelters stocked with food and drinking water. Power crews were staged to restore lines once winds eased, and train and road services in the storm's path were disrupted.

The Bay of Bengal's cyclone season peaks in October and November, and back-to-back storms leave little time for recovery between events. Officials warned of flooding in river deltas and damage to crops, homes and fishing infrastructure.

Damage assessments were expected once the storm moved inland and weakened. Authorities urged residents to remain in shelters until official all-clear notices, warning that the heaviest rain often follows landfall.