Andhra Pradesh – Cyclone Montha made a powerful landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on Tuesday evening, unleashing torrential rain and destructive winds that have left one person dead and caused extensive damage across coastal regions. The severe weather system brought maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 110 kmph, affecting millions of residents in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
As Cyclone Montha continues to weaken while moving inland, authorities are assessing the full extent of damage to infrastructure, agricultural lands, and communities across the affected states.
Landfall and Intensity of Cyclone Montha
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that Cyclone Montha made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around 7 pm on Tuesday. The system arrived with maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph, causing immediate and widespread impact across coastal districts.
Since its landfall, Cyclone Montha has gradually weakened into a cyclonic storm. As of Wednesday morning, the IMD reported that Cyclone Montha was centered approximately 20 km west-northwest of Narsapur and 90 km west-southwest of Kakinada. Weather officials predict that Cyclone Montha will further weaken into a deep depression as it continues moving northwestwards inland through Andhra Pradesh.
Tragic Loss of Life and Injuries
The destructive power of Cyclone Montha claimed at least one life in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district, where an elderly woman died after a tree fell on her house during the height of the storm. The incident underscores the deadly potential of falling trees during severe weather events.
In addition to the fatality, Cyclone Montha caused multiple injuries across the affected region. A boy and an auto driver sustained injuries when strong winds associated with Cyclone Montha uprooted coconut trees in the Konaseema district, highlighting the dangers posed by flying debris and falling vegetation during the cyclone.
Massive Evacuation Operations
In response to the approaching threat of Cyclone Montha, the Andhra Pradesh government executed large-scale evacuation operations, moving nearly 76,000 people to safety before the storm’s landfall. This proactive measure likely prevented a higher casualty count during the cyclone’s most intense period.
The state government established comprehensive relief infrastructure, setting up over 219 medical camps to address health emergencies and deploying 865 tonnes of animal fodder to protect livestock. To facilitate rapid response and recovery operations, authorities deployed 1,447 earthmovers, 321 drones, and 1,040 chainsaws specifically for clearing debris and fallen trees left in the wake of Cyclone Montha.
Preventive Measures and Safety Protocols
Ahead of Cyclone Montha’s landfall, Andhra Pradesh authorities implemented strict safety measures, including a vehicular curfew in seven districts: Krishna, Eluru, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju. This curfew ensured that residents remained indoors and away from potential hazards during the storm’s peak intensity.
Transportation Disruptions from Cyclone Montha
Cyclone Montha caused significant disruptions to air and rail transportation across the affected states. At Visakhapatnam Airport, 32 flights were cancelled, while Vijayawada saw 16 cancellations and Tirupati recorded four cancelled flights. These cancellations stranded thousands of passengers and disrupted travel plans across the region.
Rail services experienced equally severe disruptions, with the South Central Railway cancelling 120 trains across its zone. The East Coast Railway was forced to divert several services to avoid areas most affected by Cyclone Montha, creating cascading delays throughout the railway network.
Agricultural Devastation
The agricultural impact of Cyclone Montha has been catastrophic for farmers in Andhra Pradesh. Officials reported that standing crops over 38,000 hectares were destroyed, while horticultural crops across 1.38 lakh hectares suffered extensive damage. The IMD issued warnings of further damage to paddy and vegetable fields in inundated low-lying areas as floodwaters continue to affect agricultural regions.
This widespread agricultural destruction threatens the livelihoods of thousands of farming families and could impact food supplies and prices in the coming months.
Odisha Bears the Brunt
Cyclone Montha extended its destructive reach beyond Andhra Pradesh into neighboring Odisha, where 15 districts experienced heavy rain and strong winds. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi reported that over 11,000 people were relocated to 2,048 cyclone shelters as a precautionary measure.
Educational institutions across nine Odisha districts have been ordered to remain closed until October 30, ensuring student safety during the ongoing severe weather conditions associated with Cyclone Montha.
Heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Montha caused landslides and flooding in Odisha’s Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts. Roads were blocked by boulders and fallen trees in several areas, isolating communities and hampering relief efforts. One person was injured in a house collapse in Gajapati district, adding to the casualty toll from the cyclone.
Ongoing Weather Alerts
The IMD has issued red and orange alerts for both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, indicating that severe weather conditions will persist. As Cyclone Montha continues weakening and moving inland as a deep depression, the weather department predicts heavy rainfall will affect Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal over the next few days.
Recovery and Assessment
As Cyclone continues its inland trajectory and gradually weakens, authorities in both states are focusing on damage assessment, debris removal, and restoration of essential services. The full economic and social impact of Cyclone Montha will become clearer in the coming days as officials complete comprehensive surveys of affected areas and communities begin the long process of recovery and reconstruction.
