Pawan Kalyan tells officials to stay alert as Cyclone Murasu nears Nellore coast

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to remain on high alert as cyclone Murasu approaches the coast, even as the State is yet to recover from the damage caused by cyclone Arnab.

At a review meeting with senior officials of the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and Rural Water Supply Departments on Monday, Mr. Kalyan said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned of extremely heavy rain in Nellore, Prakasam, Markapuram, Bapatla and Krishna districts.

In view of the forecast of intense rainfall, he stressed the need to evacuate people living in low-lying areas to safer locations, ensure proper coordination among departments, minimise hardship and prevent loss of life.

Officials informed the Deputy Chief Minister that the cyclone was initially forecast to cross the coast between Bapatla and Machilipatnam. However, it had changed course and was now expected to make landfall near Nellore.

Heavy rain was already lashing Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Tirupati and Markapuram districts under the influence of the cyclone.

Six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and seven State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams had been kept on standby, officials said. They added that other necessary precautionary measures were being taken.