As Cyclone Montha, a powerful cyclonic storm, intensifies over the Bay of Bengal, authorities in Visakhapatnam have issued a ban on beach visits. The sea along the coast has become increasingly rough, with a noticeable surge observed on Monday morning, October 27, 2025. The cyclone is predicted to make landfall near the Kakinada coast on October 28, prompting immediate safety measures.
In response, the Visakhapatnam City Police Commissionerate has swiftly deployed security personnel and expert swimmers to key beaches including RK Beach, Rushikonda Beach, Yarada, and Bhimili, ensuring public safety and preventing any incidents during this hazardous period.
The emergence of Cyclone Montha has inevitably stirred chilling memories of Cyclone Hudhud, which devastated Visakhapatnam on October 12, 2014, causing an estimated loss of ₹21,000 crore. This historical context underscores the current anxiety and heightened state of alert among residents.
Driven by these past experiences, residents have begun extensive stockpiling of essential commodities. Concerns over potential shortages of petrol, diesel, milk, water, cooking oil, and pulses have led to widespread panic buying. Government-run Rythu Bazaars (farmers’ markets) experienced a significant rush as people hurried to purchase vegetables and other necessities.
The Indian Army has also been placed on high alert as Cyclone Montha continues to intensify across both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, underscoring the widespread preparations. Memories of week-long power and communication disruptions caused by past cyclones are fueling residents’ efforts to secure ample supplies of food, fuel, and vital medicines.
“We are determined to avoid another Hudhud-like catastrophe,” stated B. Vijaya Lakshmi, president of Sai Oak Dale Apartments in Visakhapatnam. She added that her apartment association has proactively arranged for generator diesel and ensured adequate storage of drinking water, demonstrating a community-led effort to mitigate potential hardships.
An official from the Rythu Bazaar in Gajuwaka zone reported on Monday, October 27, that the surge in demand led to tomatoes being sold at ₹30 per kg. “The current stock of tomatoes is slightly depleted due to delayed lorry arrivals,” the official explained, reassuring the public that “normalcy will resume in the Rythu Bazaars once the cyclone threat passes.”
Meanwhile, government efforts are underway to provide aid, with 269 rehabilitation centers already established along the Kakinada coast. Despite these precautions, officials emphasize that Cyclone Montha is not expected to strike the Visakhapatnam coast with the same direct impact as Hudhud. However, the region can still anticipate significant rainfall and strong winds, estimated at 50 to 60 km/h, during the cyclone’s landfall near Kakinada, as confirmed by a meteorologist at the Cyclone Warning Centre. Visakhapatnam will undeniably experience the storm’s indirect effects.