Cyclone Murasu intensifies, Odisha speeds up evacuations

Murasu has strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole between 11.30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3. Odisha has expedited evacuations from vulnerable areas, while several flights at Chennai and Gannavaram airports were cancelled. Alerts cover Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.