Cyclone Murasu: Pawan Kalyan Orders Round-the-Clock Vigil, Cancels Staff Leave

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to prioritise public safety, essential services and infrastructure restoration in areas affected by Cyclone Murasu. With the cyclone expected to intensify its impact on the state from Tuesday night and continuous rainfall reported across nearly 15 districts, he described the next two to three days as critical and instructed field-level personnel to remain on high alert.

Pawan Kalyan reviewed the preparedness and relief measures with senior officials of the Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply departments on Tuesday evening. He discussed precautionary arrangements during the cyclone's landfall and the restoration work required once rainfall subsides. Pointing to rainfall exceeding 30 cm within a few hours in areas such as Guntur, he highlighted the intensity of the weather system and the need for coordinated action.

Special attention has been directed towards vulnerable tanks and canals in rural areas, where heavy rainfall could trigger flooding. Officials were instructed to identify weak tank bunds and canal embankments and strengthen them immediately to prevent breaches. Residents living close to water bodies should be shifted to safer locations wherever necessary.

The Deputy Chief Minister announced that all staff leave would remain cancelled until the rains subside. Following the arrangements adopted during Cyclone Arnab, he proposed deploying personnel from other districts and forming special task forces to support affected areas. These teams will handle sanitation, drinking water supply and other essential services until normal conditions return.

He also directed officials to prevent waterlogging in residential areas by clearing drainage channels and ensuring the smooth flow of rainwater. Special attention must be given to eliminating foul odours and preventing mosquito breeding after floodwater is drained.

Uninterrupted drinking water supply was another priority. Officials were asked to inspect water quality, repair damaged pipelines and undertake bleaching, chlorination and super chlorination wherever required to prevent contamination and disease outbreaks.

Pawan Kalyan further instructed departments to restore damaged roads promptly after rainfall eases and maintain connectivity between villages. The Agriculture, Electricity and Revenue departments must jointly assess crop losses and property damage and submit detailed reports to the government. He also called for a dedicated control room at the Commissionerate, if necessary, to monitor relief operations continuously, stressing that all departments must work in coordination.