CYCLONE MURASU

02 Nov 2026

Tags: Prelims   Current events of national and international importance

Source: The Indian Express

Context: Cyclone Murasu is expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh on November 2, 2026, within a week of Cyclone Arnab.

  • Origin: Bay of Bengal. Movement: West-northwestward; expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm.
  • Landfall: Between Nellore and Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Wind speed: 100–110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.
  • IMD Red Alert: SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Bapatla and Krishna districts.
  • Odisha: 150 landslide-prone locations identified in Gajapati district.
  • Name: Murasu is a Tamil word meaning war drums; India contributed the name to the regional cyclone-naming list.
  • Cyclone naming: Tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean are named under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) framework, with names contributed by regional member countries.
  • Regional body: The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones coordinates cyclone naming in the North Indian Ocean.

Prelims Question

Q1. With reference to tropical cyclone naming in the North Indian Ocean, consider the following statements:

  1. The naming of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean is coordinated by the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones.
  2. India is the sole authority responsible for naming cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal.
  3. Member countries contribute names to a regional list used for naming tropical cyclones.
  4. The name of a cyclone indicates its intensity and the category assigned by the India Meteorological Department.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: (a) 

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is Correct: The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones coordinates the regional cyclone-naming system.
  • Statement 2 is Incorrect: Cyclone names are contributed by multiple member countries, not exclusively by India.
  • Statement 3 is Correct: Member countries submit names that are placed in a regional list and used sequentially.
  • Statement 4 is Incorrect: Cyclone names are identifiers and do not indicate wind speed, intensity or classification.