Cyclone Montha, currently churning in the Bay of Bengal and heading towards the Andhra Coast, has significantly disrupted rail and air traffic across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The storm, which began as a deep depression, has now intensified into a ‘severe’ cyclonic storm. This has led to the cancellation of numerous trains and flights, impacting thousands of travelers.
The Odisha government has taken proactive steps by evacuating residents from low-lying and landslide-prone areas in eight affected districts. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has been reported in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
Rail Services Severely Affected
In Odisha, 32 trains passing through Visakhapatnam have been canceled due to the severe cyclonic storm. The East Coast Railway has announced that some trains will be short-terminated or diverted to minimize passenger inconvenience. The Samaleswari Express and Hirakhand Express are among those affected, with services suspended on specific routes.
Air Travel Disrupted
Flight operations in Andhra Pradesh have also been severely impacted. Gannavaram Airport in Andhra Pradesh saw at least 30 flights canceled for Tuesday, and all flight operations from Vishakhapatnam airport have been suspended due to the adverse weather conditions.
Disaster Preparedness Underway
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 22 teams across the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Puducherry. An additional 20 teams are on standby, equipped with rescue tools, boats, and communication equipment to manage potential evacuation, relief, and restoration efforts.