NDRF deploys three teams in Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Murasu approaches coast

Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force NDRF 4th battalion have been deployed from Tamil Nadu to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to spearhead rescue and relief operations following the landfall of Cyclone MurasuAccording to NDRF three teams from the 4th battalion stationed at Nagarikuppam near Arakkonam in Ranipet district Tamil Nadu departed for Andhra Pradesh to undertake disaster response and rescue operations in the wake of Cyclone MurasuThe development comes after the weather agency stated that the storm is very likely to continue moving northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic stormMeanwhile Cyclonic Storm Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and is likely to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between midnight on November 2 and the early hours of November 3 the India Meteorological Department IMD saidIn its latest bulletin the IMD said the system moved nearly northwestwards at a speed of 20 kmph during the past six hours and lay centred over the same region at 230 am IST on November 2The severe cyclonic storm was centred near latitude 136degN and longitude 825degE about 260 km eastnortheast of Chennai 290 km eastsoutheast of Nellore 320 km southsoutheast of Machilipatnam 310 km eastsoutheast of Kavali 330 km southeast of Ongole and 470 km south of VisakhapatnamThe weather agency said the storm is very likely to continue moving northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm with a sustained wind speed of 100110 kmph and gusts reaching 120 kmphThe landfall is likely between Nellore and Narsapur close to Ongole between 1130 pm IST on November 2 and 4 am IST on November 3 the IMD saidMeanwhile the Rayagada district administration has stepped up its preparedness for the possible impact of Cyclone Murasu deploying all 11 fire station teams and heavy machinery at strategic locations for emergency response Additional District Magistrate General Ravindranath Kahanra saidThe administration held a virtual emergency review meeting on Sunday under the chairmanship of the District Collector to assess preparedness for the possible cyclone and heavy rainfall The meeting reviewed early warning systems emergency services rescue and relief operations shelter arrangements and the availability of essential equipmentSpeaking about the preparedness measures Kahanra said In preparation for Cyclone Murasu the Rayagada District Collector held a virtual emergency meeting to discuss safety measures and readiness Key topics included the districts preparedness early warning systems emergency services and shelter preparationsHe said that based on reports from the India Meteorological Department IMD and the Special Relief Commissioner SRC the district was under a yellow warning until November 2 followed by an orange warning for November 3 and 4The administration has deployed all 11 fire station teams and positioned JCBs excavators and Hydra cranes at Gumma Ghati and Mukundpur Ghati for immediate clearance of National Highway 326 in case of road blockagesKahanra said acirciquestiquestThe administration has deployed fire station teams and machinery for road clearance while BDOs Tahsildars and concerned officials have been instructed to remain present with all equipment and machinery to prepare for any type of eventualityThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever