Cyclone Montha Tracker Live Updates: Andhra, Telangana brace for extremely heavy rainfall, IMD issues 'red alert'

In its latest press release, the IMD said, “Extremely heavy rainfall (≥21 cm) likely at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam during 27th–29th and Telangana on 28th October.”

Apart from Puducherry, the IMD has placed Tamil Nadu’s Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Ranipetunder under orange alert for heavy rainfall.

The Odisha government has started evacuating people from vulnerable places and deployed 128 disaster response teams in eight southern districts of the state as the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal on Monday intensified into a cyclonic storm named 'Montha'. Keeping in view the formation of cyclone 'Montha', the state government has started the evacuation of people from vulnerable hilly and low-lying areas of eight southern districts, which could be impacted due to the impending calamity, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari said.

Amid heavy rain alerts, schools in Andhra Pradesh have been closed. Authorities have announced a two-day holiday in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, and West Godavari districts, which are likely to be the worst affected by the cyclone.

With Cyclone Montha expected to hit Andhra Pradesh severely, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has put the state’s administrative machinery on high alert.

CM Naidu conducted a teleconference with senior officials on Sunday to review the readiness of all government departments in anticipation of “heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds” across coastal districts from October 27 to 29.

Officials have been directed to coordinate relief efforts and ensure rapid action in response to any emergencies caused by the approaching storm.

The IMD has issued red and orange alerts for 23 of Andhra Pradesh’s 26 districts.

Red warnings, indicating extremely heavy rainfall, have been issued for SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and Kakinada.

The remaining districts, excluding Anantapur, Kurnool, and Sri Sathya Sai, have been placed under orange alerts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain.

Tamil Nadu will likely see continued rainfall on Tuesday, with Tiruvallur district expected to bear the brunt of heavy to very heavy showers.

While most parts of the state will see light to moderate rain, the IMD has highlighted Tiruvallur for particularly intense rainfall. Other northern districts likely to witness heavy rain include Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, and Ranipet, while the southern districts of Tenkasi, the hilly areas of Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari are also expected to experience significant downpours.

Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across North and South Tamil Nadu, as well as the union territories of Puducherry and Karaikal.

The weather office has flagged the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Kanchipuram districts.

Heavy rain is also expected in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, and Puducherry.

The Odisha government has begun evacuating residents from vulnerable areas and deployed 128 disaster response teams across eight districts.

The state has mobilised more than 5,000 personnel, including 24 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, five NDRF teams, and 99 fire service units, for relief and rescue operations.

All districts have been instructed to prepare men and machinery to respond if the cyclone alters its course.

The state has ensured that food grain stocks for all fair price shops in coastal areas will be in place.

Mandal Level Stock Points (MLSPs) already hold sufficient supplies.

Officials reported that 40% of stock movement in coastal districts has been completed, and GPS exemptions have been granted for second-stage food grain transport, following requests from district collectors.

District authorities have been empowered to draw essential commodities from MLSPs for preparing meals in cyclone shelters and disaster camps, with expenditures allowed under Treasury Rule-27.

The Andhra Pradesh government has finalized an extensive pre-cyclone action plan to ensure relief, essential supplies, and smooth operations ahead of Cyclone Montha’s anticipated landfall.

State Civil Supplies Minister N. Manohar said the plan focuses on stock positioning of Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities, fuel inventory management, paddy procurement, food supply to relief shelters, and post-cyclone relief distribution.

Odisha is on high alert as the state braces for the impact of Cyclone Montha, which continues to intensify over the Bay of Bengal.

The state government has identified eight districts as “most vulnerable” and has launched extensive preparedness measures to minimise potential damage, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Sunday.

He added that expectant mothers due to deliver in the coming week have been relocated to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) for safe deliveries.

Stocks of essential commodities have been secured to prevent shortages or price manipulation, while SDRF, NDRF, and fire service teams have been deployed across high-risk districts with additional forces on standby for rescue and relief operations.

IMD forecasts that Cyclone Montha will cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, around Kakinada, during the evening or night of October 28, bringing maximum sustained wind speeds of 90–100 km/h gusting up to 110 km/h.

Authorities have urged residents in coastal and low-lying areas to:

>> Secure loose objects and stock essential supplies.

>> Stay indoors during heavy rainfall and strong winds.

>> Follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary travel.

Senior IAS officer RP Sisodia will supervise operations along the West Godavari–Chittoor belt, while Ajay Jain will head the Visakhapatnam zone, covering districts from Srikakulam to Konaseema.

Other officers have been assigned to individual districts to ensure rapid response, loss assessment, compensation disbursement, and restoration of normalcy post-cyclone.

The Andhra Pradesh government has placed all coastal and adjoining districts on high alert and deployed senior IAS officers as Special Officers to oversee preparedness, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.

Chief Secretary K Vijayanand has directed the officers to reach their assigned districts immediately, establish Cyclone Control Rooms, and coordinate closely with District Collectors.

Disaster response forces across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu have been placed on high alert.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea between October 25–29 due to rough weather conditions.