Cyclone Murasu nears India, ports hoist signal 2

Cyclone Murasu is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast of India as a severe cyclonic storm on Monday night, prompting the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) to ask the country's four maritime ports to hoist local cautionary signal No. 2.

The cyclone, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, was located 1,275 kilometres from Mongla Port and 1,295 kilometres from Payra Port, according to a special bulletin issued by the Met Office on Monday.

It was moving northwestwards towards the Indian coast.

The maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kilometres of the cyclone's centre was 89 kilometres per hour, rising to 117 kilometres per hour in gusts or squalls. The sea was very rough near the storm's centre, the bulletin said.

The BMD asked the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra to maintain local cautionary signal No. 2.

Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.

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