Cyclone Montha, which intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, has begun making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, marking the start of a crucial and dangerous phase. Meteorological authorities have stated that the landfall process will continue for approximately the next four hours, with the storm expected to cross near Kakinada late at night. As the cyclone advanced closer to the shoreline, several regions across Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring state of Odisha experienced heavy rainfall accompanied by strong gusty winds, disrupting normal life and prompting widespread emergency measures.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone Montha had moved north-northwestwards at a speed of about 17 km per hour over the last six hours. The storm was positioned around 120 km east of Machilipatnam, 110 km south of Kakinada, 220 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, and roughly 460 km southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha. The weather body confirmed that the cyclone would continue moving in a north-northwest direction and cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada, carrying wind speeds ranging from 90 to 100 km per hour, with gusts reaching up to 110 km per hour.
As the storm’s outer bands hit the coastline, torrential rain began to pour over the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Krishna, East and West Godavari, and Konaseema. The state government, anticipating the severity of the cyclone, imposed a night curfew on vehicular movement across seven districts — Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju district — from 8:30 pm to 6 am. The restrictions were aimed at preventing accidents and ensuring smooth emergency operations, with only medical and disaster response vehicles allowed to operate during this period.
District Collectors and Superintendents of Police were instructed to halt all traffic, including vehicles travelling on national highways, as precautionary measures. Citizens were advised to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and closely follow official advisories until conditions stabilised. The government’s quick action reflected the seriousness of the situation, with strong winds uprooting trees, snapping power lines, and causing significant property damage.
Under the influence of the cyclone, several towns in Andhra Pradesh witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall. Machilipatnam recorded over 5 mm of rain, while Narasapur and Tuni experienced nearly 10 and 15 mm, respectively. Kakinada and Visakhapatnam also recorded steady rainfall throughout the day. In Nellore district, continuous rain persisted for 36 hours, with average precipitation reaching 5 cm and some areas receiving up to 7 cm. Officials warned that heavy rain would continue for the next 12 hours, with teams on high alert to respond to emergencies in both rural and urban regions.
Tragically, the cyclone claimed its first life when a woman in Makanagudem village of Konaseema district was killed after a tree, uprooted by strong winds, collapsed on her. Meanwhile, flight and train operations were severely disrupted due to adverse weather. A total of 32 flights were cancelled at Visakhapatnam airport, 16 at Vijayawada, and four at Tirupati. The South Central Railway also cancelled around 120 trains over two days to ensure passenger safety. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed 45 teams across vulnerable coastal zones to manage rescue and relief operations during and after landfall.
In neighbouring Odisha, authorities were also on high alert, as the state was expected to face heavy rain and strong winds in its southern and coastal regions. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that more than 2,000 disaster relief centres had been opened across eight southern districts, where over 11,000 people had already been relocated from low-lying and vulnerable areas. Entry to tourist destinations like Deomali and Mahendragiri hills was restricted, and access to several beaches was prohibited until conditions improved. Schools and anganwadi centres in nine districts were closed until October 30, while the government cancelled all employee leaves to ensure full administrative readiness.
The East Coast Railway implemented large-scale changes to train schedules, including cancellations, diversions, and short terminations on routes within the Waltair division. The state government also issued a stern warning to fishermen, prohibiting them from venturing into the Bay of Bengal along and off the Odisha coast until October 29, given the continuing rough sea conditions.
The IMD issued multiple alerts across Odisha, including a red warning for extremely heavy rainfall in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts. An orange alert, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall, was extended to districts such as Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, and Bolangir, while several northern districts, including Cuttack, Kendrapada, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj, were placed under a yellow warning for moderate to heavy rain.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held a review meeting with top officials from the East Coast and South Central Railway zones through video conferencing, emphasising strict passenger safety, route management, and rapid restoration planning. As the cyclone continued to make its way inland, authorities across multiple states braced for its cascading impact — not just on Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, but also in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, where heavy rainfall and wind damage were expected over the following days.
