Less than a week after Cyclone Arnab struck Andhra Pradesh, the state and neighbouring Odisha are preparing for another cyclone while relief and restoration work continues. Cyclone Murasu is expected to cross the Andhra coast near Ongole late Monday night or early Tuesday, with winds of 100–110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph.Andhra Pradesh has deployed disaster response teams and ordered evacuations from unsafe areas.

Odisha is moving residents from low-lying settlements and landslide-prone hillsides, while Chennai has declared a school holiday on November 2 as heavy to very heavy rain is forecast.The fresh threat comes as around 1.18 lakh people in Odisha remain affected by the floods and landslides following Arnab’s landfall on October 28. Further rain in southern Odisha through November 4 could hamper recovery efforts and trigger fresh flooding and landslides.#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Heavy rain lashes several parts of the city amid Cyclone Murasu IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chennai and Tiruvallur on November 2. https://t.co/HFonaZA82N— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026MURASU TO MAKE LANDFALL NEAR ONGOLEMurasu intensified into a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) 5.30 pm update, it was about 420 kilometres east-southeast of Chennai and 490 kilometres east-southeast of Nellore, moving west-northwestwards at 25 kmph. It is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by the early hours of November 2 before turning northwestwards towards Andhra Pradesh.The latest forecast places landfall between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole in Prakasam district, between 11.30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3.ANDHRA DEPLOYS TEAMS, ORDERS EVACUATIONSThe IMD has issued a red warning for extremely heavy rain in coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 2 and an orange warning for very heavy rain in Rayalaseema and Telangana.Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed preparations and directed departments to coordinate rescue and relief operations.Six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and seven State Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed.

Control rooms have been opened, and authorities have ordered the evacuation of people from unsafe locations.Residents have been urged to follow official warnings and call 112 or 1070 for emergency assistance.CHENNAI SCHOOLS CLOSED ON NOVEMBER 2Authorities in Chennai have declared a school holiday on November 2 due to the cyclone.Tamil Nadu’s Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department on Sunday evening directed district collectors to remain on high alert, mobilise personnel and follow disaster management procedures.Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast at isolated places in Chennai and Tiruvallur on Monday. Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris are expected to receive heavy rain.The district-wise advisory indicates that rainfall intensity will ease on November 3, with heavy rain forecast at isolated places in the Nilgiris.Collectors have been instructed to maintain vigilance and immediately report any untoward incident to the State Emergency Operations Centre.ODISHA EVACUATES RESIDENTS, RELIEF WORK CONTINUES#WATCH | Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, chaired a high-level review meeting at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Bhubaneswar to assess preparedness and precautionary measures for Cyclone “Murasu”.

Additional Chief Secretary Arabinda Padhee, IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty and senior officials attended the meeting.— ANI (@ANI) November 1, 2026Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil said Ganjam and Kandhamal were the worst affected by Arnab and the subsequent floods.With another spell of rain approaching, Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said southern Odisha had been placed on high alert. Authorities have identified vulnerable settlements and begun moving residents to safer locations.Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri are among the districts being closely monitored for flash floods and landslides.Rainfall is expected to begin on November 2, intensify on November 3 and continue through November 4.

Winds could reach 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, from Monday evening, increasing to 50–60 kmph, with gusts of 70 kmph, on Tuesday.Officials in Ganjam have been directed to stock food, drinking water and other essentials and prepare evacuation plans. NDRF and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force personnel are on standby.Government employees’ leave has been cancelled until November 5 in Nabarangpur.

At the Balimela reservoir, authorities have opened one radial gate and two sluice gates, releasing around 6,000 cusecs of water.RAIN WARNINGS, ADVISORIES FOR FISHERMENThe IMD has also issued an orange warning for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on November 2. Heavy rain is expected in parts of Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Mahe and south interior Karnataka over the next two days.Fishermen have been advised to stay out of the southeast Bay of Bengal until November 2 and the southwest Bay of Bengal until the morning of November 4.Odisha authorities have separately advised against fishing at sea from November 2 to 4.- Ends