Cyclone Murasu is a useful UPSC disaster-management case study because it shows why preparation must follow a storm through its full life cycle—from early warning and evacuation to landfall, rainfall impacts and recovery. Use dated bulletins: on 5 November 2026, Murasu should no longer be described as a severe cyclone. The India Meteorological Department reported that its remnant had weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over East Telangana and adjoining Coastal Andhra Pradesh on 4 November.
TIMELINE: TRACK THE SYSTEM, NOT JUST THE HEADLINE
IMD bulletins in early November tracked Murasu over the Bay of Bengal and issued warnings for the Andhra Pradesh coast and neighbouring areas. Forecasts anticipated a crossing between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, around the transition from 2 to 3 November. The cyclone crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of 3 November. Subsequent bulletins recorded weakening over land: it was a cyclonic storm on 3 November, then a depression and, by 4 November, a well-marked low-pressure area.
The status matters for accuracy. A past warning describes a forecast at that time; a later bulletin describes what actually happened and the system’s current condition. By 5 November, a revision note should focus on the remnant low and residual rain risk rather than present-tense cyclone warnings. Check the newest IMD bulletin before using any forecast or alert.
DISASTER-MANAGEMENT LENS
Before landfall, risk reduction depends on reliable forecasts, clear local alerts, evacuation plans, shelters, transport, protection for vulnerable people and coordination among IMD, State Disaster Management Authorities, district administrations, police, health services and local communities. Forecast-based action can reduce exposure, but it requires last-mile communication and accessible shelters.
During impact, priorities include safety, emergency medical support, power and communications, road access, drainage, relief distribution and rapid assessment of damage. After the system weakens, authorities should continue monitoring rainfall, flooding, landslides and waterlogging. A cyclone’s wind hazard may decline while rain-related risks continue inland. Recovery should restore essential services, document losses, support livelihoods and build back infrastructure with future hazards in mind.
UPSC MAINS ANALYSIS
For GS Paper III, discuss multi-hazard early warning, preparedness, evacuation, resilient infrastructure and community participation. A balanced answer should identify constraints such as forecast uncertainty, uneven local capacity, informal settlements, livelihood disruption and coordination gaps, then recommend risk-informed land use, resilient shelters, interoperable communication and post-event evaluation.
PRELIMS REVISION
Murasu affected the south Andhra Pradesh coast in early November 2026. IMD reported its remnant over East Telangana and adjoining Coastal Andhra Pradesh on 4 November, weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area. The IMD cyclone bulletin archive is the primary source for dated storm status; the Andhra Pradesh disaster-management dashboard provides local response information. Always distinguish a forecast from a confirmed observation.
Use the disaster-management and environment practice resources at https://upsczone.in/ to turn this event into a timed GS Paper III answer.
SOURCES
India Meteorological Department, cyclone bulletin archive: https://mausam.imd.gov.in/responsive/cyclone_bulletin_archive.php
IMD coastal bulletin, 4–5 November 2026: https://mausam.imd.gov.in/Forecast/coastal_bulletin_new.php?id=5
Andhra Pradesh SDMA cyclone dashboard: https://apsdmagis.ap.gov.in/weather-watch/cyclone