Andhra, Odisha on High Alert as Cyclone Montha Set to Make Landfall Today

Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu have been placed under a red alert for heavy rainfall as Cyclone Montha intensifies over the west-central and southeast Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Montha has strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm over the past six hours.

Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region is also expected to receive rain between October 28 and 30, according to the IMD.

Andhra Pradesh on high alert

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to take immediate steps to safeguard lives and minimize damage in coastal districts. Residents in vulnerable areas have been evacuated to safer locations, and special officers have been appointed to monitor cyclone shelters.
“Precautions must be taken to prevent the pollution of drinking water,” Naidu instructed.

The Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, as well as Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, are under an orange alert for heavy rain and strong winds.

IMD said Cyclone Montha is likely to intensify further and make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on the evening or night of October 28.
According to APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain, wind speeds along the coast could reach 90–110 kmph as the cyclone approaches land.

Rain forecast for Vidarbha

In Maharashtra, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Washim, Yavatmal, Bhandara, Gondia, and Nagpur. A yellow alert has been issued, warning of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds up to 50 kmph, said Praveen Kumar from the Regional Meteorological Centre, Nagpur.

Widespread rain across other states

The IMD has also placed Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Goa under a yellow alert for rain.

Relief and rescue operations

A total of 11 NDRF and 12 SDRF teams have been deployed across coastal regions, equipped with boats, life jackets, swimmers, and rescue gear. Medical camps and ambulance networks (108/104) have been activated in all cyclone shelters.

The state government has authorized the release of TR-27 emergency funds for rescue, medical care, food, drinking water, sanitation, and road clearance, with additional allocations planned for severely affected districts.