The landfall process of severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ has commenced and the same will continue for the next 3-4 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday evening.
“Latest observations indicate that the landfall process has commenced. The landfall process will continue for next 3-4 hours,” the IMD said on X.
According to the weather office, the severe cyclonic storm over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 15 kmph during past six hours and lay centered over the same region at 4.30 pm.
The storm, the IMD said, will continue to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during next 3-4 hours as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.
The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, with extremely heavy downpour also likely in isolated areas.
Ahead of the cyclone’s liekly landfall tonight, authorities in Andhra Pradesh mobilised NDRF and SDRF teams, preparing hundreds of relief centres.
Thousands of people from low-lying and vulnerable areas have already been evacuated to safer places.
The state has set up 1,906 relief camps and 364 school shelters to accommodate residents being evacuated from 1,238 villages vulnerable to gusty winds and heavy rainfall triggered by the cyclone.