Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall Near Ongole, 21 Flights Cancelled as Andhra Pradesh Braces for Heavy Rain

A severe cyclonic storm named Murasu began making landfall near Ongole in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district in the early hours of Tuesday, bringing gale-force winds and heavy rainfall to coastal areas. According to Hindusthan Samachar English, the weather system’s approach prompted the cancellation of 21 flights as Andhra Pradesh braced for the worsening conditions, with authorities and airline operators coordinating to manage disruptions and issue passenger advisories as heavy rain began affecting coastal districts.

Reports indicate that Murasu’s landfall progressed around Ongole with wind speeds reaching gale-force levels as the cyclone moved ashore, signaling a period of intensified weather along the coast. Hindusthan Samachar English notes the ongoing operational adjustments and disruptions tied to the cyclone, including preparations by authorities and airlines to mitigate impacts on air travel in the region. The supplied material does not provide exact timings for landfall, flight schedules, or subsequent transport effects beyond the 21 cancelled flights and the broader preparations underway.

UrbanAcres adds that Chennai and Andhra flights faced a second consecutive day of cancellations driven by adverse weather linked to Cyclone Murasu, affecting operations across Andhra Pradesh and prompting authorities to manage flight schedules in the region. The report emphasizes the lack of specific airports, flight numbers, or exact times in its detailing, but confirms ongoing disruptions connected to the cyclone’s weather impacts.

Chiang Mai Citylife, drawing on NDTV and Hindustan Times, describes a broader aviation-related response tied to Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivities in northern Thailand. Airport authorities at Chiang Mai International announce that 108 flights were canceled and 80 were retimed or adjusted within an eight-day window spanning November 21 through November 28, with safety directives limiting operations during peak lantern release periods. The measures aim to minimize risk inside the aviation safety zone while accommodating festival activities, and Hindustan Times cites data available as of October 30 for the projected lantern numbers within the safety zone.

The Chiang Mai precautions are framed as preventative, with authorities requiring carriers to avoid critical times on November 24 and 25 and reducing the daily operating window to roughly 12 hours. The guidance also prohibits lantern releases inside red zones that intersect take-off and landing routes, paired with enhanced inspections of airfield areas to enforce the restrictions. Chiang Mai International Airport is coordinating with multiple authorities to inform residents and organizers about restrictions and potential schedule changes, advising travelers to check flight status and to arrive early, using online check-in or self-service options where possible.

The Watchers – Watching the world evolve and transform reports a separate development in Atlanta tied to severe weather, noting more than 400 flight cancellations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with about 100 aircraft brought in for inspection and a ground stop through mid-afternoon on a related date. The report, however, does not connect these events to the Cyclone Murasu coverage or the Andhra Pradesh disruption; it appears as a parallel severe-weather note within the broader, multi-outlet aggregation.

Pulse Ghana covers a separate aviation-inflight incident unrelated to the cyclone clustering in Southeast Asia. It centers on a frightening in-flight episode on a Kumasi-to-Accra service attributed to heavy rain, highlighting turbulence and passenger concern, with a named individual reported as Lil Win. The article does not provide details on aircraft type, specific time, injuries, crew actions, or outcomes beyond noting the scare, and places emphasis on the in-flight experience rather than an official investigation or operational disruptions tied to the cyclone events in India or Thailand.