CHENNAI, Nov. 3 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places over Nilgiris district over the next 24 hours as severe cyclonic storm Murasu made landfall along the south Andhra Pradesh coast.

According to IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre, Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday and is expected to move northwestward, weakening into a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 80-90 kmph by Tuesday afternoon before further degrading into a deep depression by midnight.

It would further weaken into a deep depression by Tuesday midnight, the weather office said.

The Tamil Nadu government has put contingency measures in place to preve...