As Cyclone Montha gained strength over the Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam’s beautiful beaches were swiftly closed to the public. The sea was dangerously rough, with a noticeable surge observed on Monday morning (October 27, 2025). This formidable storm is anticipated to make landfall near the Kakinada coast on October 28.
In a proactive move, the Visakhapatnam City Police Commissionerate immediately deployed security personnel and skilled swimmers to critical locations, including RK Beach, Rushikonda Beach, Yarada, and Bhimili, bolstering safety protocols for residents.
For many in the city, the very mention of Cyclone Montha inevitably conjured chilling recollections of Cyclone Hudhud, which struck Visakhapatnam with devastating force on October 12, 2014. That catastrophe left the city reeling from an estimated ₹21,000 crore in losses.
Haunted by the grim lessons of Hudhud, residents across Visakhapatnam initiated widespread panic buying of essential commodities. Fears of shortages for petrol, diesel, milk, water, cooking oil, and pulses drove a frantic rush to stores, with government-run Rythu Bazaars experiencing particularly intense demand for vegetables.
The vivid memory of week-long power outages and communication breakdowns during the previous cyclone prompted families to prioritize stocking up on non-perishable food, emergency fuel, and crucial medicines.
“We are determined to avoid another Hudhud-like ordeal,” declared B. Vijaya Lakshmi, president of Sai Oak Dale Apartments, whose words echoed the sentiments of many. “Our apartment association has proactively secured diesel for our generators and ensured we have ample drinking water stored.”
An official from the Rythu Bazaar in Gajuwaka confirmed the impact: “The sudden influx of shoppers saw tomatoes jump to ₹30 per kg. Our stock has dwindled slightly because supply lorries couldn’t reach us. We anticipate a return to normal pricing and availability once the cyclone threat passes.”
Despite the public’s heightened vigilance, reassuring news came from officials and meteorologists at the Cyclone Warning Centre. They stated that while Visakhapatnam will certainly feel the storm’s effects, with significant rainfall and winds of 50 to 60 km/h, Cyclone Montha is unlikely to make a direct, devastating hit like Hudhud. Its projected path indicates landfall closer to the Kakinada coast, lessening the direct impact on Visakhapatnam.