Amaravati, Nov. 2 -- Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Murasu' over the Westcentral Bay of Bengal is projected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, late tonight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in an hourly bulletin issued on Monday night.

However, despite severe storm surge warnings and wind speeds expected to cross 100 kmph, evacuation operations are currently not underway in several vulnerable low-lying coastal pockets.

According to the IMD bulletin issued at 2130 hrs IST, the cyclonic storm was centred near Latitude 14.9degN and Longitude 80.6degE at 2030 hrs IST-about 60 km east of Kavali, 80 km northeast of Nellore, 90 km southeast of Ongole, and 110 km south of Bapatla.

The weather department state...