Montha intensifies into severe cyclonic storm, likely to make landfall on Andhra coast tonight; NDRF, SDRF deployed

Cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ is set to make landfall, most likely tonight, on the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam.

The cyclone over the west-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

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As of 5:30 am on October 28, the storm was centred near latitude 14.7°N and longitude 83.1°E, about 190 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 270 km south-southeast of Kakinada, and 340 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam.

According to the IMD, a red warning has been issued for several districts of Odisha, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, where heavy to very heavy rainfall, and even isolated extremely heavy falls, are likely to occur.

Meanwhile, a depression over the east-central Arabian Sea has also formed, located around 510 km south-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 580 km west-southwest of Mumbai. It is likely to move north-northeastwards across the Arabian Sea over the next 36 hours.

As a precautionary measure, authorities have deployed NDRF and SDRF teams, set up hundreds of relief centres, and cancelled several trains. Thousands of people from low-lying and vulnerable areas have already been evacuated to ensure safety and minimise casualties.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been monitoring the situation from the Real Time Governance Society Centre at the State Secretariat. He said the administration is fully prepared to face any eventuality.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Chief Minister over the phone, assuring that the Centre is ready to provide all possible assistance to the state.

Meanwhile, the government has deployed 22 NDRF teams across the five states likely to be affected: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh.

Officials estimate that the cyclone could impact 1,419 villages and 44 towns in Andhra Pradesh. People have been advised to stay indoors, and those in coastal areas have been urged to move to relief camps.

Authorities have also warned fishermen from venturing into the sea, apprising them of rough conditions and high tidal waves. All beaches have been closed to tourists until further notice.

Rain forecast for several states

As Cyclone ‘Montha’ intensifies and moves toward the Andhra coast, the IMD has issued rainfall warnings for multiple states between October 27–31.

In Andhra Pradesh & Yanam (Puducherry), on October 27–29, light to moderate rain at most places; heavy to very heavy rain at a few places; extremely heavy rainfall (>20 cm) likely at isolated locations.

While on October 30, heavy rainfall is likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

In Odisha, on October 28–29, rainfall is likely to intensify, heavy to very heavy at many places; extremely heavy rainfall (>20 cm) is likely in south Odisha; and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in north Odisha. On October 30, isolated heavy rainfall is expected.

In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, from October 27–28, light to moderate rainfall is likely at most places; heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated areas is expected.

In Telangana, on October 28–29, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in some areas.

In Chhattisgarh, on October 28, heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rainfall (>20 cm) in isolated areas, is expected. While on Oct 29–30, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely.

In Gangetic West Bengal, on October 28–31, light to moderate rain is likely at most places; isolated heavy rainfall is expected.

In Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, on October 30, isolated heavy rainfall is likely.
On October 31, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected.

In Jharkhand, from October 28 to 31, light to moderate rain is likely at many places, with isolated heavy rainfall throughout, with heavy to very heavy rainfall on October 30.

In Bihar, on October 29–31, light to moderate rain at many places is likely; heavy rainfall on the 29th; and heavy to very heavy rainfall on October 30–31.