The severe cyclonic storm Montha has made landfall near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, late Tuesday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed. The cyclone, named Montha — meaning fragrant flower in Thai — is expected to cause widespread rain and strong winds across the state’s coastal districts.
According to the IMD, Montha will continue to move north-northwestwards and cross the Andhra coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam over the next three to four hours as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.
The IMD has warned that the impact of Cyclone Montha will be most severe in Kakinada, Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and the Alluri Sitarama Raju districts (Chinturu and Rampachodavaram divisions).
“Heavy rain, strong winds, and localized flooding are expected in these regions. Residents are advised to stay indoors and follow government advisories,” said an IMD official.
In view of safety concerns, the state government has suspended all vehicle movement in these seven districts from 8:30 pm on Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday.
Authorities said that the cyclone is likely to affect 403 mandals across 22 districts, making it one of the largest-scale weather emergencies in recent years for Andhra Pradesh.
IMD Warns of Crop Damage, Advises Farmers
The IMD has cautioned that the cyclone may cause significant damage to standing paddy and vegetable crops in low-lying and waterlogged areas.
Farmers have been urged to drain out excess water from fields and secure farm assets. “Avoid venturing into the open or near trees during strong winds,” the IMD advisory added.
To ensure uninterrupted communication and rescue coordination, the Andhra Pradesh government has installed 81 wireless towers and 21 high-intensity lamps in cyclone-hit zones.
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Emergency equipment, including 1,447 earthmovers, 321 drones, and 1,040 chainsaws, has been readied to clear uprooted trees and debris.
As part of preparedness measures, the government has disseminated 3.6 crore alert messages to residents across vulnerable districts.
“Every effort is being made to ensure public safety. Citizens should rely only on official updates,” said a government spokesperson.
Heavy Rainfall Recorded in Coastal Districts
Between 8:30 am and 4 pm, several regions recorded heavy rainfall, with Ulavapadu in Nellore district receiving the highest at 12.6 cm, followed by Kavali (12.2 cm), Dagadarthi (12 cm), Singarayakonda (10.5 cm), B Kodur (6 cm), and Visakhapatnam and Tuni (2 cm each).
During a high-level review meeting, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was briefed that Nellore district had recorded the highest rainfall so far. Relief and rehabilitation teams remain stationed in vulnerable areas.
