In brief
Cyclone Murasu struck India's southern coastline in the early hours of Tuesday, delivering strong winds and heavy rains but recording no fatalities. The event follows last week's Arnab, which killed more than ten people, and has resulted in flight cancellations across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Authorities report undamaged power supply and ongoing monitoring of the storm's trajectory.
Murasu made landfall on India’s southern coast early Tuesday, bringing gusts up to 120 km per hour (75 mph) and heavy rainfall, according to a local disaster‑management official cited by Xinhua. Authorities reported no human casualties, though several trees and electric poles were uprooted. Power supplies remained normal in the most affected districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Xinhua noted that the cyclone hit the state’s coastal areas and directed residents to stay indoors, adding that the storm followed last week’s Arnab, which had killed more than ten people in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and forced the cancellation or diversion of over 20 flights, including international services, from airports in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Background
Earlier this week, Arnab caused significant damage along the eastern coast. Xinhua reported that the storm killed at least ten people, while Business Recorder indicated that six people lost their lives in the event. In a brief report associated with the Gulf‑based outlet, a note suggested that the death toll could be as low as three. The differing numbers highlight a lack of a single, authoritative casualty count for the first cyclone of the period.
Impact and Response
All three sources agree that the newer storm, Murasu, has not yet claimed human lives. Business Recorder emphasized that no deaths or injuries had been reported, and Xinhua echoed that no casualties had been reported despite widespread disruption. The unchanged power supply and the fact that large trees were uprooted point to significant but contained damage. Flight disruption continued into the early hours, with around 20 flights either canceled or diverted, a detail that underscores the storm’s reach beyond the immediate coastal zone.
As Murasu continues to move inland, authorities remain on alert, issuing warnings and setting up emergency protocols in the affected districts. The fact that both cyclones struck within a 12‑day span raises questions about the changing pattern of tropical disturbances in the Bay of Bengal. Experts invite meteorological agencies to analyze whether climate‑related shifts might be increasing cyclone frequency or intensity, particularly given that the first event reportedly had a higher casualty toll than the second.
Open questions persist for local residents and officials alike. The exact extent of economic damage—particularly to agriculture, fishing, and local infrastructure—remains to be quantified. The apparent difference in reported death tolls for Arnab also leaves uncertainty about how casualty figures are compiled and updated. Authorities are reportedly coordinating with national agencies to reconcile data, while the Indian Disaster Response Commission continues to monitor Murasu’s trajectory for any signs of intensification that could prompt renewed evacuation orders.
