Cyclone Montha LandfallHighlights: Cyclone Montha makes landfall; Andhra, Odisha bore the brunt

Severe Cyclonic storm Montha on Tuesday crossed the coast off Andhra Pradesh, causing disruptions in the southern state, while the impact was also felt in neighbouring Odisha, where normal life was affected in 15 districts.

The landfall process started around 7 pm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that the weather system will cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada.

It will cross with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90 to 100 kmph and gusting up to 110 kmph.

High alert 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."

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the landfall process of Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha has begun near Kakinada and is expected to continue for the next three to four hours.

At 4:30 PM IST on October 28, the cyclone was positioned over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 50 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 130 km south of Kakinada, and 230 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, moving north-northwestwards at a speed of 15 kmph.

According to the IMD, Montha will continue its movement in the same direction and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, later this evening as a severe cyclonic storm, packing wind speeds of 90–100 kmph and gusts reaching up to 110 kmph.

The SCS Montha moved north-northwestwards and at 1630 hrs IST of 28th Oct, it lay about 50km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 130km south-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 230 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 470 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha).

Cyclone Montha to cross Andhra Pradesh coast around Kakinada during the evening/night of today, 28th October, as SCS (Severe Cyclonic Storm) with maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph. To cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening/night of today, the 28th October, as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the railway's preparedness for Cyclone Montha, which is expected to hit the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana later on Tuesday.

An official note said Vaishnaw directed the railway zones concerned to take precautionary measures in anticipation of the cyclone's impact on India's east coast.

It added that the railway minister discussed the key action points such as activation of divisional war rooms, readying essential materials, machinery, and manpower, especially in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Guntur divisions, along with monitoring train operations to minimise passenger inconvenience.

"The minister has asked East Coast, South Coast and South Central zones to mobilise resources for emergency response and take necessary precautions," a senior railway official said. He added that the review meeting, held through video conferencing, focused on assessing the readiness of the railway network along the east coast.

"The Union Minister reviewed the measures being taken for passenger safety, train regulation, restoration planning, and coordination with local administrations and disaster management agencies," the press note said.

The Severe Cyclonic Storm “Montha” over westcentral Bay of Bengal is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during evening/night of today, the 28th October with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Under the influences of above systems, isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Telangana and south Chhattisgarh on 28th; Odisha on 28th & 29th October, 2025.

Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: On Cyclone 'Montha', Jagannath Kumar, Officer, Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre said, "It has now intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. It is currently about 240 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 160 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 320 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam and 530 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha. It will continue to move north-northwest and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast around Kakinada between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam this evening/night as a severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 9200 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph."

On state’s preparedness for the impending cyclone 'Montha', Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi said, "the eight districts of South Odisha - Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur - are likely to be the most affected. The state government is fully prepared to deal with this situation. As always, our goal is zero casualties. To evacuate people, we have prepared 2,040 cyclone and flood-affected sites. So far, we have evacuated 11,396 people. We are monitoring the situation and are preparing to evacuate more than 30,000 people. We have deployed a total of 30 ODRF, 123 fire brigades, and five NDRF teams. We have also kept more teams on alert."

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. Vaishnaw has directed all officials of East Coast Railway (ECoR) and South-Central Railway (SCR) zones to remain on high alert and to take proactive steps for the quick restoration of train services following the impact of severe cyclonic storm Montha', which is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said his government was well prepared to face the challenges posed by cyclone 'Montha' and has opened over 2,000 disaster relief centres in eight southern districts for people likely to be impacted by the severe cyclonic storm. He said 11,396 people have shifted to 2,048 disaster relief centres opened by the state government.

Severe cyclonic storm Montha will bring heavy rainfall in several districts of West Bengal till October 31, the IMD said on Tuesday. Montha, which is currently situated over westcentral Bay of Bengal and is moving in the north-northwestward direction, is likely to make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a special bulletin. The Met office advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast till Thursday.

Cyclone Montha Landfall News Live: Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's message to people

As Cyclone Montha approaches the coastline, former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik took to microblogging site X, encouraging people to face the cyclone with determination.

"Do not be afraid of the cyclone Montha, stay alert. Just like every time, this time too we will collectively face the cyclone with determination," said the former Odisha CM.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts of Jharkhand till October 31 due to the impact of Cyclone Montha, which is intensifying over the Bay of Bengal.

Under its influence, parts of Simdega, West Singhbhum, Khunti, and Gumla are likely to experience heavy rainfall on Tuesday, while Chatra, Garhwa, Latehar, and Palamu may receive very heavy rain on Wednesday.

The weather bureau also warned of heavy rainfall in several other districts, including Giridih, Koderma, Lohardaga, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Hazaribag, Ranchi, Dumka, Godda, Pakur, and Sahebganj, on October 30 and 31.

Flight and train operations across Andhra Pradesh were severely disrupted on Tuesday as Cyclone Montha intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal.

According to officials, all 32 flights operating from Visakhapatnam Airport were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. The airport has implemented safety measures in line with Airports Authority of India (AAI) guidelines to ensure protection during both pre- and post-cyclone phases.

Two Air India Express flights were also cancelled a day earlier on Monday.

Vijayawada Airport reported the cancellation of 16 flights on Tuesday while managing to operate five.

Similarly, Tirupati Airport cancelled four flights due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Cyclone Montha News Updates: Fishing boats anchored at Visakhapatnam Harbour as sea turns rough | Watch

Fishing boats have been anchored at the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour as the sea turns increasingly rough under the impact of Cyclone Montha.

Authorities have advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea until conditions improve, with strong winds and high waves expected along the coast as the severe cyclonic storm moves closer to landfall.

The Ganjam district administration has stepped up preparedness as Cyclone Montha approaches the Odisha coast.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Debadutta Panda said the administration is on high alert and fully equipped to handle any emergency situation.

“We have evacuated over 2,500 people to designated cyclone shelters, including 28 residents from urban areas. All cyclone shelters are functional, and necessary arrangements have been made to provide food, water, and other essential facilities to the evacuees,” he said.

Panda added that the situation in the district remains normal for now, but officials are maintaining strict vigilance as the severe cyclonic storm moves closer to the coast.

In the past 24 hours, Ponneri and Avadi in Tamil Nadu have received 72 mm and 62 mm of rainfall respectively.

According to the RMC bulletin, moderate rain accompanied by light thunderstorms and lightning is likely over Chengalpattu, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Tirupattur, Villupuram, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanyakumari districts.

Meanwhile, anticipating traffic disruptions in Chennai due to heavy rain, deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin made a surprise inspection at the Chennai Metropolitan Corporation’s command and control centre early Tuesday to review real-time traffic management in vulnerable areas.

The IMD has issued a storm warning for Tamil Nadu’s ports as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Director B. Amudha said Local Warning Signal No. 4 has been hoisted at Chennai, Ennore, and Kattupalli ports, while Distant Warning Signal No. 2 has been issued for Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Puducherry, and Karaikal ports. She explained that such warnings are meant to alert ships and port authorities to take preventive measures against gusty winds and possible damage.

Authorities are on alert in Tiruvallur district, where heavy rainfall is expected.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till tomorrow, as surface winds are expected to reach 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph over the southwest Bay of Bengal.

Schools in Chennai are shut today due to the rainfall.

The Ganjam district administration has begun public announcements urging residents to avoid the sea and move to safer locations as Cyclone Montha approaches.

Authorities have asked people to vacate vulnerable houses and take shelter in designated relief centres, where all necessary arrangements have been made.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, this morning, chaired a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar to assess the state’s preparedness for Cyclone Montha, which is expected to impact coastal regions soon.

The meeting was attended by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Special Relief Commissioner DK Singh, DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, Fire Services DG Sudhanshu Sarangi, IMD Director Manorama Mohanty, and senior officials from various departments.

District Collectors from cyclone-prone regions also participated in the meeting virtually to brief the Chief Minister on local preparedness measures and response plans.

In preparation for Cyclone Montha developing over the central Bay of Bengal, the NDRF has deployed 25 teams across the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Puducherry likely to be impacted by the storm.

According to the NDRF, another 20 teams have been placed on standby at strategic locations to ensure swift mobilisation if required.

Each team has been equipped with boats, cutting tools, communication gear, and other specialised rescue equipment to conduct evacuation, relief, and restoration operations in affected areas.

The deployment is part of precautionary measures coordinated with state governments and disaster management authorities as Cyclone Montha intensifies over the Bay of Bengal.

Rajasthan has witnessed widespread heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours under the combined influence of Cyclone Montha over the Bay of Bengal, the Meteorological Center in Jaipur said today.

Director of the Meteorological Center, Radheshyam Sharma, said that several parts of the state received heavy to very heavy rainfall, with Nainwa in Bundi recording 130 mm and Kotra in Bhilwara recording 117 mm of rain.

Heavy showers were also reported from Kota, Udaipur, and Sawai Madhopur districts.

“Rain is likely to continue in Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Jaipur, and Bharatpur divisions today,” Sharma said, adding that from November 3, light rainfall is expected in Jodhpur, Bikaner, and the Shekhawati region as the weather systems move further inland.

The department has advised residents in low-lying areas to stay cautious as moderate to heavy rainfall could lead to temporary waterlogging in some regions.

Cyclone Montha Tracker Live Updates: Sea turns rough at Gopalpur port as Cyclone Montha nears; public entry restricted | Watch

The sea at Gopalpur Port has turned rough under the impact of Cyclone Montha.

Authorities have barred public entry to the beach as a safety measure.

Fishing boats from Andhra Pradesh have been anchored at Gopalpur port in Odisha’s Ganjam district as Cyclone Montha intensifies over the Bay of Bengal.

According to officials, around 50 boats that had ventured into Odisha waters are unable to return due to rough sea conditions and have been secured in the harbour.

Local fishing vessels from Odisha have also been kept docked at Gopalpur as a precautionary measure amid the cyclone warning.

Heavy rain battered several parts of southern Odisha on Tuesday as Cyclone Montha over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, according to the IMD

The IMD has issued a red warning for Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm. An orange warning is in effect for Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Khurda, Puri, and Bargarh, while a yellow alert has been sounded for Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh districts.

In Andhra Pradesh, authorities have begun precautionary evacuations in coastal areas as Cyclone Montha nears landfall.

In Kothapatnam village, officials were seen making public announcements urging residents to vacate their homes and move to safer locations.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed across 25 hamlets in the Uppada region to assist with evacuation efforts and provide emergency support.

Officials said the measures are being taken to ensure the safety of residents as the severe cyclonic storm approaches the Andhra coast, bringing the threat of strong winds and heavy rainfall.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has implemented several precautionary measures in view of Cyclone Montha, which is expected to make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh tonight.

Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Deepak Rout said that a total of 32 trains passing through Visakhapatnam have been cancelled to ensure passenger safety and prevent disruption due to adverse weather conditions.

“We have cancelled 32 trains passing through Visakhapatnam so that travellers are not affected much. We are trying our best to run trains up to 4 p.m. tomorrow. Local MEMU services and other trains scheduled to depart after that time have been cancelled,” Rout said.

He added that the complete list of cancelled trains has been uploaded to the East Coast Railway’s social media handles and digital platforms for passenger awareness.

In addition to cancellations, several trains have been diverted and short-terminated as a precautionary measure.

“The Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express has been diverted, while the Bhubaneswar–Jagdalpur Express and the Rourkela–Jagdalpur Intercity Express have been short-terminated,” Rout informed.

The East Coast Railway has also alerted its field staff to remain vigilant, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas, to monitor track safety and ensure quick restoration of services once conditions improve.

Cyclone Montha Tracker Live Updates: Rough waves lash Kakinada, Uppada as Cyclone Montha intensifies; Beach road shut | Watch

The sea turned turbulent in Kakinada this morning as Cyclone Montha continued to move closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast, bringing with it high waves and strong winds.

Visuals from Beach Road in Kakinada and Uppada showed seawater surging onto the roads as the cyclone intensified over the west-central Bay of Bengal.

According to officials, nearly an 8-kilometre stretch of the beach road has suffered damage due to the rough sea conditions.

As a precautionary measure, the beach road connecting Kakinada and Uppada has been closed to traffic to prevent any untoward incidents.

The IMD, a while ago, alerted that Cyclone Montha has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, by today evening or night.

According to the latest IMD bulletin issued at 5:30 am, Cyclone Montha, pronounced Mon-Tha, is moving north-northwestwards at a speed of 15 kmph.

The storm was centered near latitude 14.7°N and longitude 83.1°E, approximately 190 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 270 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 340 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, and 550 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha.

The IMD said the system is likely to maintain its north-northwestward movement and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast around Kakinada as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.

Cyclone Montha Landfall News Live: Chilika lake turns rough as cyclone montha nears Andhra coast | Watch

The iconic Chilika Lake in Odisha’s Khordha district witnessed rough waters and strong winds this morning as Cyclone Montha approaches the Andhra coast

According to officials, boat operations have been suspended in and around the lake as a precautionary measure.

The district administration has also directed local authorities to remain on alert and ensure the safety of fishermen and nearby communities.

The IMD, headquartered in New Delhi, is one of these RSMCs and is responsible for naming cyclones over the North Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

Names are selected from a list submitted by 13 member countries of the WMO/ESCAP Panel -- Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen.

Tropical storms across the world are named to avoid confusion, especially when multiple systems develop at the same time, says the WMO.

Assigning names helps in effective communication, disaster preparedness, and public awareness.

The name Montha was suggested by Thailand and translates to a beautiful or fragrant flower.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)has authorised six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) and five Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres globally to monitor and name cyclones.

The Malkangiri Collector further noted, "Flood-prone and low-lying areas have been identified, and rescue and relief teams have been deployed in advance".

Additional reinforcements, including one NDRF team and three ODRF teams, have been mobilised to the district.

To ensure quick restoration of essential services, four additional teams from Tata Power are being dispatched to assist with electricity restoration.

The administration has also requested extra fire safety teams equipped with their own rescue gear to strengthen response efforts.

Malkangiri district in Odisha has been placed under a three-day red alert as Cyclone Montha is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds to the region.

District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay said authorities are on full alert and have initiated extensive preparations to mitigate the cyclone’s impact.

“All government employees have been assigned specific tasks, and a district control room has been set up to coordinate emergency operations across departments,” he said.

Upadhyay added that residents can contact the control room to report complaints, damage, or critical situations for immediate response.

Each block has also established its own control centre, led by respective Block Development Officers (BDOs).

Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast moderate rain accompanied by light thunderstorms and lightning in several districts of Tamil Nadu over the next three hours as Cyclone Montha approaches the Andhra coast.

According to the weather bureau, the weather activity is very likely to occur at a few places across Chengalpattu, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Kanniyakumari, Ranipet, Tenkasi, Thiruvallur, Thoothukkudi, Tirunelveli, Tirupathur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Viluppuram, and Virudhunagar districts.

Cyclone Montha Landfall News Live: Rough seas and strong winds lash Machilipatnam coast ahead of landfall | Watch

Rough sea conditions and strong winds battered Manginapudi Beach in Andhra Pradesh's Machilipatnam early today as Cyclone Montha began impacting the Andhra Pradesh coast ahead of its expected landfall later in the evening.

Waves could be seen rising high along the shoreline, following which authorities urged residents and visitors to stay away from the beachfront amid rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.

Cyclone Montha Landfall News Live: Huge waves, strong winds lash Kakinada coast ahead of Cyclone Montha landfall | Watch

In Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada, rough sea conditions were reported at Kauda Beach this morning, as strong winds and huge waves lashed the coast ahead of Cyclone Montha’s expected landfall later in the evening.

Authorities have urged residents and tourists to stay away from the shoreline, warning of dangerous sea conditions as the severe cyclonic storm approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast.

As Cyclone Montha moves toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, neighbouring Rayagada district in Odisha has intensified its preparedness efforts, though it is not directly in the cyclone’s path.

District Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni said, “A cyclone is about to hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh. While Rayagada is not directly in the cyclone's path, as a neighbouring area, we have rainfall red alerts for the 28th and 29th. Accordingly, all the district authorities are prepared.”

He said the administration has launched “a basic preparation module for all district-level officers,” adding that JCBs and other heavy machinery have been stationed in every block as landslides and heavy rainfall are the main threats during the cyclone season.

Kulkarni noted, “TPS is ready in case of a power snap. Other line departments, such as education and other offices, have been kept on alert since the declaration that schools and offices would be closed.”

He further stated that precautionary evacuations have already begun.

“Women who are about to give birth in the next seven days have been evacuated; the process is already underway. We have also identified certain vulnerable habitations where, if conditions deteriorate, these areas will need to be evacuated. Therefore, they have been listed and tagged to specific temporary shelters,” the Collector said.

In Odisha, the Chilika Wildlife Division has suspended all boat operations in Chilika Lake from October 28 to 30, according to DFO Amlan Nayak.

Speaking to the media in Khordha, Odisha, Nayak said that field units have been instructed to safeguard infrastructure ahead of the cyclone’s impact.

He added that teams are prepared to offer immediate veterinary assistance if wildlife is affected.

Nayak further stated that if the bird camp faces potential damage due to the storm, it will be dismantled and reinstalled after the cyclone passes.

He cautioned that the entire Chilika division is likely to experience the effects of Cyclone Montha.

The IMD has issued an alert for Telangana as Cyclone Montha is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm later this morning before making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast.

GNRS Srinivasa Rao, Meteorologist at IMD Telangana, said the cyclone is likely to cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, by Monday evening or night.

“Most districts in Andhra Pradesh will experience extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds from tomorrow onwards,” he said.

“We have issued an orange alert for Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu districts, while the northeastern and westerly districts, including Nirmal, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Medak, Sangareddy, and Vikarabad, are under yellow alert,” Rao added.

The Meteorological Department has also advised fishermen not to venture into the southwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal, along and off the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal coasts till October 28. Additionally, fishermen have been warned against proceeding towards the Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Odisha coasts till October 29.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued a warning as Cyclone Montha continues to intensify over the Bay of Bengal and moves towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Dr. B. Amudha, Director of the RMC, said the cyclone is likely to bring maximum sustained wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, with gusts up to 110 kmph during landfall. “It is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify further by tomorrow morning,” she said.

“Those who have already set out to sea are requested to return to shore immediately,” Dr. Amudha added, stressing the importance of precautionary measures as Cyclone Montha strengthens and nears landfall.

The Ganjam district administration has intensified preparedness measures as Cyclone Montha approaches the Andhra-Odisha coast, with authorities activating multiple response teams and initiating the evacuation of residents from vulnerable areas.

District Collector Keerthi Vasan said that around 110 cyclone shelters have been readied across Ganjam with full arrangements for food, medical care, and safety. “We have already started evacuating people from sensitive areas. Pregnant women are being given special attention,” he said.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Tuesday, and an orange alert for Wednesday, as heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to batter southern Odisha districts.

“Warnings have been issued to fishermen, and we expect three additional ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) teams to be deployed in the district. There is also a dedicated fire safety team in each block,” the Collector added.

In Odisha, authorities in Ganjam district have provided shelter to fishing boats stranded at sea due to rough weather conditions.

Inspector-in-charge of the Aryapalli Marine Police Station, Bidyabharati Nayak, said several fishing boats from Andhra Pradesh were unable to return because of the cyclone.

“Our Ganjam district collector ordered all of them to be settled in the harbour. We have provided shelter to 30 boats at the Gopalpur Port, and they will remain there until the cyclone subsides,” Nayak said.

Officials have stepped up monitoring along the coast as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the Andhra-Odisha coastline, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to the region.

Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore until weather conditions improve.

Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway has cancelled, diverted, and short-terminated several trains in the Waltair region as a precautionary measure.

Government employees’ leaves in the eight high-risk districts have been cancelled until October 30, and power backup systems have been installed at hospitals and water supply units.

The Water Resources Department is closely monitoring reservoir levels in anticipation of heavy to very heavy rainfall, while Distant Cautionary Signal No. I (DC-I) has been hoisted at all ports in Odisha.

The Special Relief Commissioner is coordinating with the Indian Coast Guard, and helicopter assistance will be sought if required.

Special Relief Commissioner D.K. Singh said schools and Anganwadi centres in nine districts have been closed till October 30 as a precaution.

Entry to beaches has been restricted, and fishermen have been barred from venturing into the sea until further notice.

Most fishing vessels have already returned to shore.

Though Cyclone Montha is expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, its impact will be felt across eight southern Odisha districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.

These areas are likely to experience wind speeds of 60–70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph, on October 28–29.

Special attention has been directed to Gajapati district, where 139 vulnerable areas have been identified due to the risk of landslides.

Odisha's local representatives, Anganwadi and ASHA workers are assisting in persuading residents of vulnerable areas to shift to shelters, prioritising pregnant women, elderly people, and persons with disabilities.

So far, the state has deployed 140 rescue teams, including units from the NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Services, to assist with evacuation and relief operations.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that evacuation efforts are in full swing, with over 3,000 people, including 1,496 pregnant women, already moved to safer locations by Monday evening.

The state has set a ‘zero casualty’ target, he said, adding that 32,528 residents from low-lying and hilly regions are to be relocated ahead of landfall.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has stepped up evacuation and preparedness measures as Cyclone Montha intensifies over the Bay of Bengal and moves toward the east coast at a speed of around 15 kmph.

The IMD has issued a red alert for eight southern districts, warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next two days.

For immediate relief operations, the state government has authorised the withdrawal of funds under TR-27 for evacuation, medical care, food, drinking water, sanitation, and road clearance.

Additional funds will be released for districts facing severe impact, officials said.

To aid rescue and relief operations, 11 NDRF and 12 SDRF teams have been deployed, along with Fire Services personnel, swimmers, OBM boats, life jackets, and other emergency equipment.

The 108/104 ambulance network and medical camps have been activated across cyclone shelters.

District collectors have been asked to take full charge of cyclone preparedness, including monitoring potential breaches in tanks and irrigation channels.

Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla informed the Chief Minister that precautionary measures were already in place to tackle the heavy rains in the region.

Naidu urged officials to remain alert and strengthen drainage systems to avoid flooding, adding that a coordinated, actionable plan was crucial to mitigate the cyclone’s impact.

“All efforts are being made to protect lives and minimise disruptions,” the Chief Minister assured.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to take swift measures to safeguard lives and minimise damage in coastal areas.

During a teleconference from the RTGS Centre at the Secretariat, Naidu instructed district collectors and superintendents of police to evacuate residents from vulnerable coastal zones to rehabilitation centres without delay, according to an official release.

The Chief Minister noted that high-quality food and safe drinking water must be ensured at all relief camps.

He also ordered the appointment of special officers to supervise the functioning of these centres and stressed the need to prevent water contamination.

The IMD and INCOIS also predicted widespread rainfall across the affected coastal regions, with light to moderate rain at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at several locations.

Extremely heavy rain exceeding 20 cm is likely at isolated places till October 29, the bulletin added.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and the IMD, on Monday, warned of high sea waves along the Andhra Pradesh coast from Nellore to Srikakulam, as Cyclone Montha is set to intensify into a cyclonic storm by this morning.

In a joint bulletin, the two agencies forecast waves ranging from 2 to 4.7 metres along the coast between 5:30 pm and 11:30 pm on Monday. “

High waves in the range of 2 to 4.7 metres are expected during 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm of October 27 off the Andhra Pradesh coast from Nellore to Srikakulam,” the advisory said.

A storm surge of around one metre above the astronomical tide is forecast, which could lead to inundation in low-lying areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam around the time of landfall.