Montha weakens after landfall, IMD predicts heavy rain in Telangana, Andhra

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other state agencies have released a list of emergency contacts for people living in vulnerable zones.

Helplines by area:

• Bhubaneswar: 811-438-2371
• Khurda Road: 966-897-8727
• Brahmapur: 966-897-8725
• Palasa: 966-897-8724
  
  Key emergency services:
  
• Odisha State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC): 0674-2534177
• Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA): 0674-2395398 / 0674-2395531
• TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL): 1912 / 1800-345-7122
• Police: 100
• Fire: 101
• Ambulance: 108
• Women’s Helpline: 1091
• Animal Helpline: 1962
• BMC: 1929
• WATCO (Water): 155359
• State Emergency Helpline: 1077

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has set up state and district-level helplines. APSDMA: 112 / 1070 / 1800-425-0101

District helplines:

• Srikakulam: 08942-240557
• Vizianagaram: 08922-236947
• Visakhapatnam: 0891-2590102 / 100
• Anakapalli: 08924-222888
• Kakinada: 0884-2356801
• Konaseema: 08856-293104
• West Godavari: 08816-299181
• Krishna: 08672-252572
• Bapatla: 08643-220226
• Prakasam: 98497 64896
• Nellore: 0861-2331261 / 79955 76699
• Tirupati: 0877-2236007

Gopalpur Port authorities are supplying essential supplies to fishermen on trawlers anchored near the port due to Cyclone Montha, which has trapped about 60 fishing boats. The vessels had begun arriving on Monday and Tuesday, with approximately 28 anchoring on Monday and the rest on Tuesday, and authorities are also collecting the fishermen's contact details for further support.

As the first major cyclonic storm of the season, Cyclone Montha, brought strong winds and rough sea conditions, 60 fishing trawlers from Andhra Pradesh, with over 600 crew members, have sought shelter at Gopalpur Port in Ganjam, Odisha, in the last two days. Deputy Director of Fisheries Prasad Kar, who reached the port with his team on Tuesday, was quoted by The New Indian Express as saying that: “Around 58 to 60 boats have been rescued. We are providing ration and drinking water to the crew members. Maintenance of the boats are also being carried out. The rescued fishermen will be provided necessary assistance until the impact of Montha subsides.”

Heavy rain lashed Vijayawada on Wednesday morning after severe cyclonic storm Montha crossed Andhra Pradesh coast near Narasapur in West Godavari district, south of Kakinada overnight, IMD said on Wednesday. A number of trees uprooted and many roads were also inundated, PTI reported. After crossing the coast, the weather system moved northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during the past six hours to weaken into a cyclonic storm, India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin issued at 5 am said.

Cyclone Montha on Tuesday brought heavy rain in coastal and southern Odisha districts, causing landslides, news agency PTI reported citing officials. The landfall of Montha started in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada about 7 pm and the process will continue for three to four hours, the Met office said. Normal life, however, was affected in a total of 15 districts in the region.

Cyclone Montha News Live: Visuals show Cyclone Montha’s fury in Andhra's Kakinada

Severe cyclonic storm Montha made landfall off the Andhra Pradesh coast, 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 on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that the weather system in the Bay of Bengal will cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada.

Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm Montha, Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest amount of rainfall on Tuesday. A woman died at Makanagudem village in Konaseema district as an uprooted palmyra tree fell on her due to gales, a police official told PTI.

Union Health Ministry reviewed preparedness measures for Cyclone Montha with senior officials of the eastern coastal States, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, an official statement said. According to a report by ANI, the Ministry has extended full support to the States, assuring all necessary assistance for an effective emergency medical response, the Health Ministry wrote on X.

Cyclone Montha struck the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on Tuesday night, bringing with it wind speeds of over 100 kmph and heavy rainfall. One woman was killed in Makanapalem village of Mamidikuduru mandal when a tree fell on her during the landfall.

Standing crops spread over 38,000 hectares and horticulture crops in 1.38 lakh hectares were destroyed in Andhra Pradesh due to the impact of the severe cyclonic storm 'Montha', the CMO said on Tuesday. The cyclone, which is expected to make landfall south of Kakinada tonight, has affected large parts of the state.

Severe cyclonic storm Montha is likely to maintain the intensity for a period of six hours after its landfall over interior Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining areas including south Odisha, the Meteorological Department said on Tuesday. The Met Department forecast very likely light to moderate rainfall at most places in Andhra Pradesh and Yanam and heavy to very rainfall at a few places till October 29.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Tuesday that 11,396 people have been evacuated and 30 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRF) and five teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed as part of measures for the Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) ‘Montha’.

"We reviewed the graphical images of IMD in the control room regarding the ground situation of Cyclone Month..Odisha is not at much risk. All our teams are prepared for any situation. People have been shifted to safe places, and all arrangements have been made at the shelters," Odisha CM Majhi said. The Chief Minister said that pregnant women, sick people, and the elderly are being cared for. Schools and Anganwadis have been closed, and the authorities are keeping a strict vigilance for the next 24 hours.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi visited the control room at the Special Relief Commissioner's office to review the situation ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Montha. Majhi reiterated the state government's preparedness in view of Cyclone Montha, saying that Odisha is not under threat yet and that people have been relocated to safe locations as a precautionary measure.