Cyclone Murasu LIVE updates: Odisha expedites evacuation from vulnerable areas as storm intensifies
System intensifies into ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’, likely to cross the south Andhra coast, between 11.30 p.m. today and 4 a.m. on November 3
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Context
Severe cyclonic storm 'Murasu' is expected to make landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh coast, prompting widespread red and orange alerts across multiple southern states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Odisha. The is tracking the system, which is bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds, leading to evacuations, flight cancellations, and the deployment of disaster response teams like the .
UPSC Perspectives
Geographical
Tropical cyclones like Murasu are intense low-pressure systems that develop over warm tropical oceans. The Bay of Bengal is highly susceptible to cyclones due to its geography; it is relatively shallow and warm, providing the necessary latent heat to fuel these storms. Additionally, the lack of strong vertical wind shear allows the cyclonic system to maintain its structure. The eastern coast of India (Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal) is more frequently struck by cyclones than the western coast due to the prevailing easterly winds that steer these storms towards the landmass. The article mentions Murasu moving west-northwestwards, a typical trajectory for storms originating in this basin. For UPSC Prelims, understanding the conditions required for cyclone formation (e.g., sea surface temperature above 26.5°C, Coriolis force, pre-existing low-pressure area) is crucial.
Disaster Management
The response to Cyclone Murasu highlights the institutional framework for disaster management in India, established under the . The proactive evacuation in Odisha and the pre-positioning of the and state forces like the demonstrate a shift from a reactive relief-centric approach to a proactive preparedness and mitigation strategy. The early warnings issued by the , utilizing color-coded alerts (Red, Orange, Yellow) to indicate the severity of the threat, are vital for timely action. The coordination between states, as seen with Tamil Nadu sending teams to Andhra Pradesh for power restoration, underscores the importance of inter-state cooperation in handling regional disasters. Mains questions often focus on evaluating India's disaster preparedness and the effectiveness of early warning systems.
Environmental
The naming of cyclones is a significant aspect of meteorological tracking and public awareness. 'Murasu', suggested by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai, is part of a standardized naming convention maintained by the . The panel on Tropical Cyclones, of which India is a member, manages the list for the North Indian Ocean region. Naming helps in identifying individual storms, avoiding confusion when multiple systems exist, and facilitating communication of warnings to the public. The increasing frequency and intensity of severe cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal, as well as the Arabian Sea, are often linked to climate change and warming sea surface temperatures, a topic of growing relevance in the UPSC syllabus regarding the impact of global warming on extreme weather events.