Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha made landfall on Tuesday evening along the Andhra Pradesh coast, triggering heavy rains, strong winds, and widespread disruptions across several districts of the state and neighbouring Odisha. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the storm began crossing the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada around 7 pm, packing wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.
Authorities reported one fatality in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, where an elderly woman died after a tree fell on her house. In another incident, a boy and an auto-rickshaw driver were injured when strong winds uprooted coconut trees in the same region.
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Maximum Impact Zones
According to IMD, the districts of Kakinada, Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju — particularly the Chinturu and Rampachodavaram divisions — are experiencing the cyclone’s most severe impact. The storm, named Montha — which means a fragrant flower in Thai — is expected to continue moving north-northwestwards after landfall.
Government Response and Safety Measures
To prevent accidents and ensure public safety, the Andhra Pradesh government has imposed a nighttime travel ban in seven coastal districts, restricting vehicle movement from 8:30 pm Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday. Authorities estimate that the cyclone could affect 403 mandals across 22 districts.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the preparedness and response measures, as officials reported that Nellore district had recorded the highest rainfall so far. Between 8:30 am and 4 pm, Ulavapadu in Nellore recorded 12.6 cm of rainfall, followed by Kavali (12.2 cm), Dagadarthi (12 cm), Singarayakonda (10.5 cm), and Visakhapatnam and Tuni (2 cm each).
Preparedness and Damage Control
To ensure swift disaster response, the government has deployed 1,447 earthmovers, 321 drones, and 1,040 chainsaws to clear debris and fallen trees. 81 wireless towers and 21 large lamps have been installed to maintain emergency communication, while 3.6 crore alert messages have been sent to residents in vulnerable areas.
The IMD has warned of potential damage to standing paddy and vegetable crops in low-lying and inundated regions. Farmers have been urged to drain excess water from fields wherever possible.
Meanwhile, in Odisha, heavy rain and strong winds have affected 15 districts, disrupting transport and power supply in several areas. Authorities in both states continue to monitor the situation closely as Cyclone Montha weakens gradually after landfall.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
