Cyclone Montha wreaked havoc in Bapatla district on Wednesday, October 29. Two homes tragically collapsed in the Chirala and Repelle divisions due to intense rainfall. District Collector V. Vinod Kumar clarified initial reports of a fatality, stating that a 90-year-old woman in Nagaram passed away from a heart attack, not from cyclone-related injuries.
In a massive effort, the district administration has sheltered 7,099 individuals in 126 rehabilitation centers across the region. Brave rescue teams also saved 15 people in Parchur, and police heroically pulled two railway employees from dangerous floodwaters in Chinaganjam mandal as they returned home on a motorcycle.
The relentless downpour caused the Gundlakamma reservoir at Addanki to overflow, fueled by heavy inflows from the Nallamada forest area. Thankfully, police were on hand to rescue three more individuals who found themselves stranded by the rising waters.
To prevent further catastrophe, the District Collector oversaw a strategic diversion of the overflowing Parchur Vagu, a storm water drain system, into empty agricultural fields. This crucial action saved Parchur town and nearby villages from submerging, especially given that the system, designed for 5,500 cusec, was struggling with an inflow exceeding 9,000 cusec.
A significant challenge has been the dense water hyacinth, obstructing the natural flow of storm water. Machinery has been quickly deployed to clear this impediment. Many roads are currently underwater, and the full extent of the damage will only become clear once floodwaters recede. Emergency crews have already worked to remove numerous fallen trees, helping to restore some semblance of normalcy. Similarly, agricultural losses can only be accurately assessed after the water subsides.
The cyclone’s impact also left more than 50 electrical substations across the district submerged, with 11 currently out of commission. Power will be restored as soon as the water levels at these substations drop, with the department having preemptively disconnected supply for safety.
Local fisherfolk and water user associations have actively joined the district’s disaster prevention and response efforts, demonstrating strong community involvement during this challenging time.