Cyclone Montha Batters Andhra and Odisha

Landfall and Initial Impact

Cyclone Montha made a powerful landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on Tuesday evening, bringing with it torrential rain and fierce winds reaching up to 110 kmph. The storm struck between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around 7 PM, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Although Montha has since weakened into a cyclonic storm, its initial fury left widespread destruction across coastal districts.

Human and Structural Damage

The cyclone’s impact proved deadly in some regions. In Konaseema district, an elderly woman tragically lost her life after a tree collapsed onto her home. Meanwhile, a young boy and an auto driver sustained injuries when uprooted coconut trees fell due to strong winds. Uprooted trees, damaged homes, and flooded agricultural fields were reported across both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Massive Evacuation and Relief Efforts

The Andhra Pradesh government swiftly launched large-scale evacuation and relief operations. Nearly 76,000 residents were relocated to safer shelters, while 219 medical camps were established to address emergencies. Authorities also arranged 865 tonnes of animal fodder to sustain livestock in affected regions. To speed up recovery, the state deployed over 1,400 earthmovers, 321 drones, and 1,040 chainsaws to clear roads and remove debris.

Preventive Measures and Curfews

Ahead of the storm’s landfall, the state administration enforced vehicular curfews in seven districts, including Krishna, Eluru, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju. These restrictions were aimed at minimizing casualties and ensuring public safety as winds intensified along the coastline.

Transportation Disruptions

Cyclone Montha brought major transportation networks to a halt. At Visakhapatnam Airport, 32 flights were cancelled, followed by 16 at Vijayawada and four at Tirupati. Railway services also suffered significant disruption, with the South Central Railway cancelling 120 trains and the East Coast Railway diverting several routes. The storm’s impact on logistics and connectivity is expected to take days to normalize.

Agricultural Losses

The state’s agricultural sector has suffered extensive damage. Officials reported that standing crops spread across 38,000 hectares and horticultural fields over 1.38 lakh hectares were devastated by Montha’s fury. The IMD further cautioned that persistent waterlogging could lead to additional losses in paddy and vegetable cultivation in low-lying zones.

Odisha’s Struggle with Heavy Rains

Neighboring Odisha also experienced the cyclone’s wrath, with 15 districts witnessing severe rainfall and gusty winds. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi confirmed that more than 11,000 people were evacuated to 2,048 cyclone shelters. As a precaution, schools and anganwadi centres in nine districts have been closed until October 30.

Landslides and Flooding in Hilly Regions

In Odisha’s southern districts — including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam — heavy rainfall triggered landslides and flash floods. Several roads became impassable due to fallen trees and boulders. In Gajapati district, one person was injured following a house collapse caused by the relentless downpour.

Warnings and Weather Outlook

The IMD has issued red and orange alerts for both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, urging residents to remain vigilant. The weakened storm is expected to bring further rainfall to Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal as it moves inland as a deep depression. Authorities continue to monitor the evolving weather patterns closely.

Current Status of Cyclone Montha

As of Wednesday morning, the IMD reported that Cyclone Montha had weakened further into a cyclonic storm. It was positioned approximately 20 km west-northwest of Narsapur and 90 km west-southwest of Kakinada. The system is likely to diminish into a deep depression as it continues to travel northwestward across the interior regions of India.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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