Bhubaneswar: Even as Odisha grappled with the devastation caused by Cyclone Arnab, the state govt on Sunday launched evacuation operations in low-lying and landslide-prone areas of southern districts ahead of the expected landfall of potential severe cyclonic storm Murasu along the south Andhra Pradesh coast by Nov 3. Special relief commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said the state aims to complete the evacuation by Monday evening.Authorities have identified at least 150 vulnerable locations in Gajapati district, where the risk of landslides remains high following Cyclone Arnab.“With large parts of southern Odisha still bearing the scars of Arnab, we have placed districts such as Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada on high alert. These districts received substantial rainfall during Cyclone Arnab, and the soil remains heavily saturated. As a result, the possibility of fresh landslides cannot be ruled out. We are taking all precautionary measures and shifting people from vulnerable locations to safer places,” said a senior govt official.Patil said the state’s priority is the safety of people living in landslide-prone zones.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Murasu is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday morning and make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur on the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.IMD Bhubaneswar director Manorama Mohanty said the cyclone is likely to trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts.“Wind speeds of 50-60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph, are likely in parts of southern and coastal Odisha during the landfall. Heavy rainfall may continue in the affected districts for the next three days before gradually decreasing,” Mohanty said.Patil said all district administrations have been directed to remain on alert. “Instructions have been issued for immediate preparedness measures. Vulnerable areas are being monitored round the clock, and extensive arrangements have been made for evacuation, shelter, drinking water supply and emergency medical services,” he said.Disaster response teams have been kept on standby across the vulnerable districts, while fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea, which is likely to be rough to very rough along the Odisha coast.