Cyclone Murasu makes landfall on India’s east coast

Cyclone Murasu made landfall along India’s eastern coast in the early hours of Tuesday, marking the second cyclone to hit the region in a week and prompting authorities to evacuate thousands of people to safety.

India’s Meteorological Department reported that the severe cyclone began making landfall at 1 a.m. local time (1930 GMT) along the coast of Andhra Pradesh in southeastern India.

Authorities began evacuating thousands of residents on Monday, with plans to move around 30,000 people to safe locations in Andhra Pradesh, which lies in the cyclone’s path.

Cyclone Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal, a major area for tropical cyclones that have caused deadly storms along India’s east coast.

The Meteorological Department forecasts that Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the south will be the most affected states.

At least six people were killed by Cyclone Arnab, which the Meteorological Department classified as a very severe cyclone, when it struck Andhra Pradesh last Wednesday.