Cyclone Montha To Hit Andhra Tonight, Heavy Rain Batters Coast; Odisha On High Alert

Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are on high alert as severe cyclonic storm Montha barrels towards the coast, with landfall expected near Kakinada on Monday night. The storm, packing winds of up to 110 kmph, has already unleashed heavy rains and triggered flooding across the coastal belt, prompting mass evacuations and widespread disruption to life and travel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Andhra Pradesh of all possible central assistance in tackling the crisis.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Montha is expected to cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam by Monday evening or night. Its outer bands have already lashed several districts, with Chittoor, Tirupati, and Kakinada bearing the brunt. In Chittoor’s Nagari constituency, four days of relentless rain caused the Kushasthali river to flood, cutting off key roads and forcing authorities to divert traffic.

In Kakinada, strong winds and rough seas have led to severe coastal erosion, with seawater surging inland and forcing the evacuation of families from several villages.While the storm’s eye will hit Andhra, neighbouring Odisha is bracing for a significant spillover effect. The state government has issued a red alert for eight southern districts, including Malkangiri, Koraput, and Ganjam, anticipating torrential rain and gusty winds from Tuesday. Aiming for “zero casualty,” authorities have opened over 1,400 cyclone shelters and are in the process of evacuating 32,000 people from low-lying areas.

Rescue teams from the NDRF and ODRAF are on standby, with a special focus on the hilly terrain of Gajapati district, which is prone to landslides.The cyclone’s impact is being felt across the region. Southern West Bengal is preparing for heavy rain and high-speed winds from Tuesday, with advisories issued to fishermen to return to shore. In Tamil Nadu, heavy showers have drenched Chennai and other northern districts.

The cyclonic conditions have severely impacted travel, with several flights between Visakhapatnam and Chennai cancelled. The railways have also cancelled or short-terminated multiple train services, including the Samaleswari and Hirakhand Express trains, to ensure passenger safety.