Odisha on High Alert as Cyclone Montha Approaches Bay of Bengal

Disaster management teams in Odisha have been placed on high alert ahead of Cyclone Montha, brewing in the Bay of Bengal, with a heavy rainfall warning issued for the state from October 27 onwards.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a severe cyclonic storm will form by October 26 and intensify further, making landfall near Kakinada on the Andhra Pradesh coast — between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam — on the evening or night of October 28.

Heavy Rainfall Alerts

• Andhra Pradesh: Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall expected in parts of Yanam and Rayalaseema from October 27–28. A yellow warning has been issued for the entire state on October 26.

• Odisha: Several districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, may experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 28–29, with wind speeds reaching 60–70 km/h and gusts up to 80 km/h.

• Tamil Nadu: Light to moderate rainfall across most areas, with isolated heavy showers on October 25–26 and October 28.

Cyclone Location

As of 11:30 pm on October 25, the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved slightly west-northwest, located approximately 850 km east-southeast of Chennai, 890 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, and 890 km southeast of Kakinada.

Preparedness Measures in Odisha

The Odisha Fire Department has been placed on alert. Fire Officer Prabhat Kumar said teams, including the SRC boat and draft team, are prepared for emergency response. Health facilities are also on standby, and efforts are underway to relocate pregnant women due to expected heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Authorities continue to monitor the storm closely, urging residents in vulnerable districts to remain vigilant and follow safety instructions.