Several states are on alert as Cyclone Montha intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm and prepares to make landfall on Tuesday evening. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, possibly near the Kakinada area. Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds are expected to affect parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and even Maharashtra over the next two days.
The IMD has predicted that the landfall could take place late Tuesday evening or by night. Authorities in the coastal regions have begun large-scale evacuation operations and set up temporary shelters for people living in vulnerable areas. Disaster management teams have been deployed in full force to handle any emergency that may arise due to flooding or infrastructure damage.
IMD Hyderabad official GNRS Srinivasa Rao said that several districts in Andhra Pradesh would witness extremely heavy rainfall, exceeding 20 cm in some places. “The cyclone is moving steadily and will cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam by tonight. Most parts of coastal Andhra are likely to face strong winds and very heavy rain,” he stated.
In Andhra Pradesh, the state government has launched an intensive preparedness drive to minimize the impact of the cyclone. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to remain on high alert and ensure the safety of residents in low-lying and coastal areas.
An orange alert has been issued for Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu districts, while northeastern regions are under a yellow alert. The IMD warned that extremely heavy rainfall — more than 20 cm — is likely in parts of southern Andhra Pradesh until Wednesday, October 29.
Rescue teams and emergency workers have been stationed across key coastal areas, with control rooms activated to coordinate relief operations. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and ports have been instructed to suspend operations temporarily until conditions improve.
In neighbouring Odisha, the state government has taken several preventive steps, including large-scale evacuations from low-lying and landslide-prone regions. Over 5,000 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Fire Services have been deployed for relief operations across eight districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.
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Authorities have also ordered the closure of schools and anganwadi centres in nine districts until October 30 as a precautionary measure. Power supply teams and communication networks have been put on standby to ensure quick restoration in case of outages.
The East Coast Railway has announced the cancellation, diversion, and early termination of multiple trains operating in the Waltair and surrounding regions due to safety concerns. The IMD has issued an orange warning (Be prepared to take action) for heavy to very heavy rainfall ranging from 7 to 20 cm in districts including Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Khurda, Puri, and Bargarh.
Additionally, a yellow warning (Be aware) for heavy rainfall between 7 and 11 cm has been issued for Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, and Sundergarh.
Apart from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, other regions are also expected to feel the effects of Cyclone Montha. In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, an orange alert has been issued for heavy rainfall in several coastal districts. These areas are expected to experience continuous showers and strong winds over the next 48 hours.
In Maharashtra, the Vidarbha region is also likely to receive moderate to heavy rainfall until October 30. The Regional Meteorological Centre, Nagpur, has issued a yellow alert for isolated places in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Washim, Yavatmal, Bhandara, Gondia, and Nagpur, warning of rain accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph.
Meteorologist Praveen Kumar from the Nagpur centre stated that while Maharashtra is not in the direct path of the cyclone, its outer bands will bring rainfall and winds to parts of central India. “The system’s intensity will gradually reduce after landfall, but its remnants will continue to bring showers to several regions,” he said.
As a preventive measure, the authorities in multiple states have set up control rooms to monitor weather developments around the clock. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the Bay of Bengal and the nearby coastal waters for at least two more days.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has urged people to stay indoors during the storm and to follow official advisories. Residents in vulnerable zones have been advised to keep emergency kits ready, stock up on essentials, and avoid unnecessary travel.
The IMD continues to track the storm’s path closely through satellite and radar data. As Cyclone Montha makes landfall, its intensity is expected to gradually decrease by Wednesday evening. However, strong winds, high sea tides, and heavy rainfall may continue in coastal areas for the next 24 hours.
With disaster response teams on alert and precautionary measures in place, officials are confident that the impact can be minimized if people cooperate and follow safety guidelines.
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