As of Monday morning, Cyclone Montha had already begun to make its presence felt across the South Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, bringing with it fierce winds and widespread rainfall. Over the past six hours, the cyclone has been moving steadily towards the coast at a speed of 18 kmph. Its current position places it approximately 520 km from Chennai, 570 km from Kakinada, and 600 km from Visakhapatnam, indicating its proximity and potential threat to these regions.
According to Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), the cyclone is projected to continue its trajectory west-north-westwards and is expected to escalate into a full-fledged cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning. Coastal areas are anticipating extremely strong winds, with gusts potentially reaching speeds of 90-110 kmph. Jain issued a strong advisory, urging the public to remain highly vigilant.
Anticipating the severity of Cyclone Montha, schools and colleges across the affected districts have been declared closed for three days. Local administrations are fully mobilized and prepared to handle any emerging situation. Dr. N. Yuvraj, the Special Officer for Cyclone Operations in SPSR Nellore District, convened a crucial review meeting. He discussed pre-emptive measures with representatives from various key departments, including Revenue, Medical and Health, Panchayat Raj, Rural Water Supply (RWS), and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS).
District Collector Himanshu Shukla emphasized the need for utmost vigilance and instructed officials to implement all necessary actions to mitigate potential damage from Cyclone Montha. He confirmed that both National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are strategically positioned and ready for immediate deployment to assist in rescue operations.
A 24/7 control room has been established at the Collectorate to offer continuous assistance to the public. Residents can contact 0861-2331261 or 7995576699 for immediate help. Authorities have identified 42 vulnerable villages and 166 habitations spanning nine coastal mandals within the district. In response, 144 relief centers are fully prepared to offer safe refuge to those who need it.
Nellore Superintendent of Police, Ajitha Vejendla, personally assessed the Manneru stream, which flows through 23 villages from Lingasamudram to Karedu in Kandukur. She subsequently issued specific directives to the relevant authorities. The SP also put the entire police force on high alert, instructing them to be extra prepared for flood-prone and low-lying areas across the district.
Prakasam District Collector P. Rajababu has issued strict instructions to the Control Room staff to maintain maximum alert and take prompt action as Cyclone Montha approaches. Accompanied by Joint Collector R. Gopala Krishna, he visited the Collectorate’s Control Room, personally reviewing the arrangements and gathering essential details from the various departmental personnel involved in disaster preparedness.
Prakasam SP V. Harshavardhan Raju affirmed that the district’s police force is fully equipped and ready to manage the cyclone situation effectively, with the primary goal of ensuring public safety and preventing any loss of life. During a review meeting with police officials, he provided crucial recommendations concerning cyclone relief operations and security protocols.
Furthermore, SP Raju directed police personnel to handle every public phone call with the highest attention and ensure immediate response. He also advised continuous monitoring of live drone camera feeds, enabling rapid intervention in any hazardous areas.
Tirupati District Collector Dr. S. Venkateswar urged the public to remain calm and alert, cautioning against circulating or believing unverified rumors about the cyclone on social media. He assured residents that the district administration is on high alert, prepared to implement stringent relief measures to prevent any loss of life or property from the approaching storm.
Dr. Venkateswar confirmed that, in addition to the main control room at the Collectorate, supplementary 24-hour control rooms have been established in the RDO offices of Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Gudur, and Sullurpeta to disseminate emergency assistance and information. He further advised district residents to maintain vigilance, especially given the forecast for heavy to very heavy rainfall.