Cyclone Montha Nears Andhra Coast; Landfall Expected Around Midnight
The powerful Cyclone Montha edged closer to the Andhra Pradesh coastline on Tuesday evening as its landfall process began, bringing intense rain and gusty winds to several coastal districts. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system is expected to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, within the next three to four hours.
Officials said the storm, now classified as a severe cyclonic storm, is likely to hit the coast late Tuesday night, packing winds of 90–100 km per hour, with gusts reaching up to 110 km per hour. The IMD added that Montha has been moving north-northwestward at a speed of about 17 km per hour during the past six hours.
At 5:30 p.m., the cyclone was located approximately 120 km east of Machilipatnam, 110 km south of Kakinada, 220 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, and about 460 km southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha. Once the landfall is complete, the system is expected to weaken gradually as it moves inland.
Andhra Pradesh on High Alert; Night Curfew Imposed
In view of the worsening weather, the Andhra Pradesh government has imposed a complete restriction on vehicular movement in seven districts from 8:30 p.m. Tuesday until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. The affected regions include Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju district (particularly Chinturu and Rampachodavaram divisions).
Only emergency medical services have been exempted from the curfew. Authorities have appealed to residents to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official safety instructions. All district collectors and police superintendents have been directed to suspend highway and road traffic through the cyclone-hit areas until further notice.
Heavy Rainfall, Cancellations, and Power Disruptions
The approaching storm has already triggered widespread rainfall across coastal Andhra Pradesh. According to IMD data, Narasapur recorded the highest rainfall of 9.8 mm since morning, followed by Tuni with 15.6 mm, Kakinada with 5.7 mm, Machilipatnam with 5.2 mm, and Visakhapatnam with light showers of 0.2 mm.
Nellore district, however, has been witnessing continuous rain for the past 36 hours, with an average of five centimeters in the last 24 hours. Some areas even recorded up to seven centimeters, an official told PTI. The situation prompted the deployment of monitoring teams in low-lying regions and vulnerable urban zones.
Tragically, a woman in Makanagudem village of Konaseema district lost her life after being struck by an uprooted tree during the high winds. Police said the tree fell on her house as gusts intensified Tuesday afternoon.
Transport and communication have also taken a hit. A total of 32 flights were cancelled at Visakhapatnam Airport, 16 at Vijayawada, and four at Tirupati due to unsafe weather conditions. The South Central Railway (SCR) cancelled more than 120 train services on October 27 and 28 across affected routes.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has stationed 45 teams along the coastal belt to conduct emergency rescue and relief operations as the storm makes landfall.
Odisha Prepares for Impact
Neighboring Odisha is also bracing for the cyclone’s aftereffects. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state has opened more than 2,000 disaster relief shelters across eight southern districts likely to face heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Around 11,400 residents have already been evacuated to safety. Tourists have been barred from visiting coastal beaches as well as popular hill destinations such as Deomali and Mahendragiri. Schools and anganwadi centers in nine districts will remain closed until October 30 as a precaution.
East Coast Railway has announced multiple train cancellations, diversions, and early terminations across the Waltair region, while all government employees’ leaves have been revoked until the cyclone passes. The government has also reiterated its advisory for fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea until October 29.
IMD Issues Rainfall Alerts for Odisha Districts
The IMD has issued a red alert for several Odisha districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
An orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall (ranging from 7 to 20 cm) has been sounded in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Khurda, Puri, and Bargarh.
Additionally, a yellow alert indicating isolated heavy rainfall (7–11 cm) has been issued for districts including Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore, and several others.
Railways, NDRF, and Local Agencies on Standby
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held a video review meeting with senior officials from the East Coast and South Central Railways to assess preparedness and ensure passenger safety. He directed authorities to coordinate closely with state disaster management teams for train regulation, rescue operations, and post-storm restoration.
As Cyclone Montha inches closer to the coast, both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha remain on edge, with authorities emphasizing caution, early evacuation, and constant monitoring to minimize casualties and damage once the storm makes landfall.
