Cyclone Murasu: NTR District Collector Assures Situation Under Control
NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha confirms the situation is under control amid Cyclone Murasu, despite waterlogging and rain disruptions.
As the severe cyclonic storm Murasu lashes the Andhra Pradesh coast, the administration of the NTR District has moved into high gear to ensure public safety and maintain order. NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha has officially assured the public that the situation remains non-alarming and fully under control, reporting that no untoward incidents have occurred across the district so far.
Weather Impact and Administrative Readiness
The district has been experiencing steady rainfall, with an average of 1.52 to 2 millimeters per hour. In a recent two-hour window, rainfall spiked to approximately 6 millimeters. Despite the downpour, the Collector emphasized that the district administration is fully prepared to handle the weather event.
Key measures currently in place include:
- Water Level Monitoring: The Budameru catchment area is being closely watched, with officials stating there is currently no imminent threat of flooding.
- Infrastructure Maintenance: Road clearing and monitoring teams have been deployed across the region.
- Traffic Flow: There are currently no major road blocks or significant disruptions to transportation.
Collector Lakshmisha has urged citizens to cooperate with official directives, avoid unnecessary outdoor travel, and strictly adhere to safety advisories. He specifically requested that residents cooperate immediately if government officials instruct them to move to rehabilitation centers.
Election Counting Amidst the Storm
Parallel to the weather crisis, the NTR district is conducting vote counting for local body elections. The process began at 8 AM, with extensive arrangements made particularly for the Vijayawada Corporation limits due to the high volume of votes.
While the process is proceeding peacefully and according to Election Commission norms, the weather has created several hurdles:
- Machilipatnam Disruptions: Incessant rains since the previous night led to waterlogging in several areas of Machilipatnam, initially delaying staff from reaching counting centers.
- Infrastructure Damage: At the Krishna University counting center, strong winds blew away tents. Municipal staff have been deployed on a war footing to repair these structures to prevent any further obstruction.
- Logistical Support: The district administration has arranged special buses to transport staff to the counting centers to ensure the process continues.
Heavy security (bandobast) has been deployed outside counting centers to maintain law and order. The Collector has appealed to political agents and representatives to cooperate with officials and contact the Returning Officer or the Collectorate Control Room directly to resolve any doubts, rather than believing or spreading rumors.
Emergency Response and Meteorological Outlook
The Fire and Rescue Services are currently working to remove uprooted trees from highways to ensure that vehicular traffic is not disrupted and normal transportation is restored quickly.
Providing a technical outlook, PLN Murthy, Director of the Visakhapatnam Meteorological Department, stated that the severe cyclonic storm Murasu crossed the coast near Ongole between 3:30 AM and 5:30 AM IST. The storm is expected to maintain a north-northwestward trajectory over the next 12 hours and is predicted to weaken into a standard cyclonic storm by noon today.
The Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for three districts and orange alerts for the remaining districts. Additionally, a strict advisory has been issued for fishermen, warning them not to venture into the sea for the next two days.