Cyclone Montha battered the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on Tuesday, unleashing torrential rainfall and strong winds that left widespread damage in its path. The storm’s impact was severe, claiming the life of a woman in Konaseema district after a tree collapsed on her home. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate as relentless downpours inundated low-lying areas, blocked roads, and uprooted trees, cutting off access to several coastal towns and villages.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Montha made landfall around 7 p.m. between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada. The storm system brought wind speeds of 80–90 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 110 kmph. Nellore district bore the brunt of the cyclone’s fury, recording the heaviest rainfall in the region. In Makanagudem village, powerful gusts uprooted a palmyra tree that crashed into a house, instantly killing an elderly woman inside.
Major cities such as Vijayawada and Kakinada were virtually shut down as heavy rain and fierce winds swept through the night. Streets were deserted, and many areas experienced power outages. In Visakhapatnam, several trees were uprooted, blocking key roads and damaging vehicles. Photographs from the city revealed extensive debris scattered along the coastline, with waves depositing heaps of garbage and plastic waste onto the beaches.
The Andhra Pradesh Police and disaster response teams worked through the night, clearing fallen trees and restoring movement in areas like Epurupalem and Vetapalem. Despite these efforts, the cyclone caused widespread agricultural damage. Preliminary assessments estimated that standing crops over 38,000 hectares and horticultural plantations covering 1.38 lakh hectares were destroyed. The state government swiftly moved to set up 219 medical and relief camps, relocating nearly 76,000 people from vulnerable zones to safer shelters.
The IMD forecast continued heavy to very heavy rainfall across coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Yanam region through Wednesday, cautioning that isolated areas could experience extreme rainfall exceeding 20 cm. The department also warned fishermen to stay away from the sea as turbulent conditions were expected to persist for another 24 hours.
The cyclone’s influence extended into neighboring Odisha, where it triggered heavy rain and landslides in at least 15 districts. Several homes were damaged, and transportation services were severely affected. Train operations were disrupted overnight, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at key junctions. Districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam witnessed uprooted trees, blocked highways, and scattered power lines.
In Gajapati’s Anaka Gram Panchayat, massive boulders rolled down from nearby hills, cutting off five villages from the main road network. Local official Balakrushna Mallick confirmed that the region had been previously identified as landslide-prone and that immediate efforts were underway to clear debris and restore connectivity.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation from the state disaster control room and assured citizens that the state had avoided large-scale devastation. “Except for a few instances of landslides and tree falls, there have been no major incidents even several hours after landfall,” he said.
As Cyclone Montha weakened while moving inland, both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha continued to face heavy rains and flooding. Emergency crews focused on clearing blocked routes, repairing power lines, and distributing relief materials. The aftermath of the cyclone has once again highlighted the growing vulnerability of India’s eastern coastline to severe weather systems intensified by changing climatic patterns.
