Cyclone Murasu makes landfall in Andhra; more flights cancelled, trains hit

Severe cyclonic storm Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 November 2026, bringing heavy rain and strong winds and disrupting air and rail travel across the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) estimated sustained winds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, and said in its 4 am bulletin that the eye of the cyclone had crossed the coast. One report placed the crossing near Ongole in Prakasam district at about 1 am; another described the landfall process between Nellore and Narsapur beginning at 1 am. At least 19 domestic flights were cancelled at Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam airports, according to one report, and South Central Railway cancelled selected train services and set up a round-the-clock war room. Heavy rain caused waterlogging in Vijayawada.

Our earlier report covered the first flight cancellations at Chennai and Vijayawada and the closure of Andhra beaches to tourists as Murasu approached. The cyclone has now come ashore, and the disruption has spread to more airports and to the railways.

For travellers, the next 24 to 48 hours are the most uncertain. Once a cyclone crosses the coast, it usually weakens over land, but it continues to bring heavy rain inland. That can flood roads and tracks and keep services suspended even after the strongest winds pass. Airlines and railways typically restore services in stages after inspecting runways, signals and tracks.

The figures from different reports do not all match, which is normal in a fast-moving event. One counts eight IndiGo cancellations at Vijayawada; another puts the total across three airports at 19 or more. Passengers should rely on the airline's own messages and on railway enquiry services for the status of a specific flight or train rather than on general counts.

The storm also comes less than a week after Cyclone Arnab hit parts of the eastern coast, which means some districts are dealing with a second weather emergency in quick succession.

Peepals timeline: Our earlier story reported flights cancelled at Chennai and Vijayawada and Andhra beaches shut to tourists as Murasu approached. Around 1 am on 3 November 2026, the cyclone began crossing the coast. By the IMD's 4 am bulletin, its eye had crossed. Through the morning, cancellations spread to Tirupati and Visakhapatnam airports, South Central Railway cancelled selected trains and opened a 24x7 war room, and heavy rain flooded parts of Vijayawada.

Short-term: Flights and trains in coastal and south Andhra Pradesh face cancellations and delays through 3 November, with heavy rain likely to continue inland.

Long-term: Repeated cyclones in quick succession test the region's transport infrastructure and disaster response, and may affect tourism along the Andhra coast in the coming weeks.

Who is affected: Air and rail passengers in Andhra Pradesh, residents of coastal districts, tourists who had planned trips to the coast, and airlines and railway staff.

Questions and Answers