Cyclone Montha made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on Tuesday, bringing heavy rainfall and winds gusting up to 110 kmph across coastal districts. The cyclone has since weakened but has left a trail of destruction, including uprooted trees and flooded farmlands, in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Here’s a summary of the key developments regarding Cyclone Montha’s impact and aftermath:
- Landfall and Intensity: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Montha made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around 7 pm on Tuesday. It brought sustained winds of 90–100 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 110 kmph. The cyclone has since weakened into a cyclonic storm.
- Casualties and Injuries: Tragically, an elderly woman lost her life when a tree fell on her house in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district. Additionally, a boy and an auto driver sustained injuries due to strong winds uprooting coconut trees in the same region.
- Evacuations and Relief Efforts: The Andhra Pradesh government successfully relocated nearly 76,000 people to safer locations. They also established over 219 medical camps and arranged 865 tonnes of animal fodder. The state deployed 1,447 earthmovers, 321 drones, and 1,040 chainsaws to clear debris and fallen trees.
- Curfew and Safety Measures: Ahead of the storm’s landfall, authorities in Andhra Pradesh imposed a vehicular curfew in seven districts – Krishna, Eluru, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju – to ensure public safety.
- Transport Disruptions: Cyclone Montha caused significant transport disruptions. Visakhapatnam Airport reported 32 flight cancellations, while Vijayawada had 16 and Tirupati had four. The South Central Railway cancelled 120 trains, and the East Coast Railway diverted several services.
- Agricultural Impact: Officials reported that standing crops across 38,000 hectares and horticultural crops over 1.38 lakh hectares were destroyed in Andhra Pradesh. The IMD has warned of further damage to paddy and vegetable fields in low-lying areas.
- Odisha’s Response: Odisha was also severely affected, with 15 districts experiencing heavy rain and strong winds. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi stated that over 11,000 people were moved to 2,048 cyclone shelters. Schools and anganwadi centres in nine Odisha districts have been shut until October 30.
- Landslides and Flooding in Odisha: Heavy rainfall led to landslides and flooding in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts of Odisha. Several areas saw roads blocked by fallen trees and boulders, and one person was injured in a house collapse in Gajapati district.
- Weather Alerts and Forecast: The IMD has issued red and orange alerts for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The department also anticipates heavy rainfall in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal in the coming days as the weakened storm system moves inland as a deep depression.
- Current Status: As of Wednesday morning, Montha has weakened into a cyclonic storm and is centered approximately 20 km west-northwest of Narsapur and 90 km west-southwest of Kakinada. It is expected to further downgrade into a deep depression as it moves inland.