Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: Andhra, Odisha, Bengal Brace Up For Severe Storm, Very Heavy Rainfall: Landfall Tonight, IMD Issues Red Alert

A high alert has been issued in Odisha amid cyclone ‘Montha’. 

Odisha Minister for Revenue & Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari said, "We have been having meetings with various officials...Today the Chief Minister also chaired a meeting in this regard...All types of facilities will be made available for persons who will be evacuated during heavy rain...We are ready to face any situation."

Light To moderate rainfall is expected over the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh over the next two days after Cyclone Montha crosses the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada.

On Cyclone 'Montha', Jagannath Kumar, Officer, Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, said, "The cyclonic storm of Montha is now lying as a severe cyclonic storm over the west central Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move north-northwestwards and cross the Andhra coast near Kakinada between the evening and the night of today as a severe cyclonic storm...Light to moderate rainfall is most likely at most places over the Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh over the next two days."

In the wake of cyclone Montha, schools and Anganwadi centers in several districts in Odisha will be closed for the next two days. 

Southern Odisha is on high alert, with 123 firefighting teams deployed.

As a precautionary measure, the administration has evacuated low-lying areas in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and issued a red alert.

Cyclone Montha landfall process begins, will cross Andhra coast during next 3-4 hours, the Weather department has announced. 

Rough sea erodes shoreline and causes damage to properties located near the shore in the Podampeta village in Odisha due to the impact of Cyclone Montha.

A Visakhapatnam fishing trawler was washed ashore at Baliharichandi beach in Puri due to the impact of Cyclone Montha. Fortunately, all 10 fishermen were rescued safely.

The Indian Meteorological Department issues a severe cyclone alert for Montha. As per the update, the cyclone is likely to cross the coasts of Andhra Pradesh between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada tonight. Strong winds up to 110mph and heavy rainfall are expected in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Telangana, South Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

As Cyclone Montha inches closer to making a landfall, Andhra Pradesh has set up over 800 relief centres to tackle the issue at hand and keep people safe.

Cyclone Montha is confirmed to make landfall on the Kakinada coast, according to the IMD's Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre. As a result, the Kakinada port is under the highest alert with a 10th number red warning, while a 9th number warning has been issued for the ports of Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, and Machilipatnam.

According to reports, the strong winds of Cyclone Montha uprooted a tree, which in turn fell on a woman, killing her instantly. The tragic incident occurred in Makanapalem village, located in the Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.

A major landslide at Badagaon Ghat (R Udayagiri block) has severely impacted local connectivity after large rocks and mud fell onto the road due to the heavy rains induced by Cyclone Montha. Communication between Ramagiri and Badagaon is completely cut off, and road access has been severely affected for five nearby villages as well as routes to the Ganjam district.

 In the wake of Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) Montha, over 35 flights between Shamshabad in Telangana and Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Rajahmundry airports in Andhra Pradesh have been cancelled, GMR Airports said. A total of 30 IndiGo, two Air India, and five Air India Express flights have been cancelled as the SCS Month approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast around Kakinada.

Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: Owing to the cyclone impact, East Coast Railway made changes and rescheduled the pattern of train services. 

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday directed railways to take precautionary measures in anticipation of Cyclone Montha's impact on the East Coast, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana.

Key Actions:

• Activation of divisional war rooms.
• Readying essential materials, machinery, and manpower, especially in the Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Guntur divisions.
• Monitoring train operations to minimise passenger inconvenience.
• ECoR, SCoR, and SCR zones to mobilise resources for emergency response and take necessary precautions.

Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: BJD President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik addressed the people of Odisha with a calm yet reassuring message as Cyclone Montha approaches the state's coast. The former CM urged citizens not to panic, reminding them that Odisha has successfully overcome many cyclones in the past and emerged stronger each time.

Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: The local administration is urging residents to move to safer locations as high tides erode the shoreline, causing damage to nearby properties.

Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: The Indian Railways has announced the cancellation of 32 trains passing through Visakhapatnam, citing passenger safety due to the Montha cyclone, expected to make landfall on the coast of Kakinada on Tuesday night.

Tamil Nadu is set for moderate rainfall and light thunderstorms across Chengalpattu, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, and Tiruvallur, including isolated places like Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, and Villupuram.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, along with IMD Director Manorama Mohanty and other senior officials from concerned departments, held a high-level meeting to assess the state’s preparedness in the wake of Cyclone Montha.

Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: NDRF pre-deployed 25 teams across the likely affected coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Puducherry, with 20 additional teams on standby at strategic locations for immediate aid.

According to the NDRF, all teams are equipped with boats, cutting tools, communication equipment, and other specialised gear to conduct evacuation, relief, and rescue operations efficiently.

Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: Cyclone Montha has continued its movement at a speed of 15 kmph over the past six hours and currently is centred around 190 km from Machilipatnam, 270 km from Kakinada, and 340 km from Visakhapatnam. The cyclone is expected to make landfall tonight between Kakinada and Machilipatnam, bringing strong winds reaching 90–110 kmph during the landfall.

The lifeguards and fire department officials were seen preventing tourists from entering the sea and urging them to move away from the beach as a precautionary measure in Puri, Odisha.

Cyclone Montha Live Updates: As Cyclone Montha moves toward the Andhra coast, the city is being pounded by heavy rain and intense winds, leaving several roads inundated.

Cyclone Montha Live Updates: Dr G. Lakshmisha, Collector of NTR district in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, holds a key review meeting as cyclonic storm Montha moves steadily towards the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to make landfall near Kakinada between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam in the evening.

Cyclone Montha LIVE Updates: As IMD issued red alert along coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha, several Southern Railways trains were declared cancelled in the interest of passenger safety.

Keeping the wind speed and heavy rainfall in mind, IMD has issued a warning for fishermen to steer clear of the sea ahead of Cyclone Montha's landfall. The boats that arrived in Odisha from Andhra Pradesh have been unable to return to the state. The 50 boats have been anchored and kept in Gopalpur port in Ganjam district of Odisha. 
 

Carrying out the evacuation process in Andhra Pradesh, NDRF Inspector Biswas assured the safety of civilians before Cyclone Montha hits the coast this evening. He told ANI, “The Team is deployed here for 24 hours. We came here two days ago. I visited here yesterday as well...The areas which I feel need evacuation and people need to be taken to shelters, we are campaigning there. The cyclone is hitting this evening. There is no need to panic. We are coordinating with the local administration. I appeal to the people to reach shelters and cooperate with us.” 

The cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal is likely to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh today evening. Ahead of this, the coastal areas in the state are experiencing torrential rains and fierce winds. A video shows an 8-kilometre stretch of beach road in Kakinada and Uppada suffered damage due to the turmoil in the sea. 

Officials in the Kothapatnam village have requested those residing along the coastline to evacuate their houses. As a precautionary measure ahead of Cyclone Montha's landfall, 25 hamlets have been deployed in Uppada.

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has directed officials to take immediate action to safeguard lives and minimise damage in coastal areas. Chief Minister instructed district collectors and superintendents of police to "shift residents of vulnerable coastal areas to rehabilitation centres without any delay".The CM emphasised the importance of ensuring high-quality food and safe drinking water at rehabilitation centres. He also ordered the appointment of special officers to oversee the functioning of these centres. "Precautions must be taken to prevent the pollution of drinking water", he said. 

Ahead of the cyclone's landfall in Andhra Pradesh, heavy rains and torrential winds are likely to hit the coast of Chennai. The IMD has issued a safety warning to fishermen who are already set out to sea to return to shore immediately. The cyclonic storm is expected to approach with a wind speed of 100 km/hr. 

A red alert has been issued in eight districts of Odisha as well, including Malkangiri, Koraput, and Ganjam. The administration is working tirelessly to ensure ‘zero-casuality’. Residents in the areas affected by Cyclone Montha have been evacuated to safer places. 

Speaking to ANI, IMD Hyderabad official GNRS Srinivasa Rao said, "It is expected to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh by Tuesday evening or night between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around the Kakinada area. Most districts in Andhra Pradesh will experience extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds." He added, “We have issued an orange alert in three districts, namely Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu. All remaining northeast districts are under yellow alert.” 
 

As per reports, red alerts have been issued in 16 districts of Andhra Pradesh for Tuesday. 

Cyclone Montha will make its landfall near Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening. Heavy rains and fierce winds are expected in the affected areas.