Cyclone Montha weakens after Andhra landfall, leaves trail of destruction and one dead

Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha weakened into a cyclonic storm soon after making landfall along Andhra Pradesh’s coast late October 28 night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, confirming the system’s gradual loss of strength as it moved northwestward over land.

“The Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha over coastal Andhra Pradesh moved northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph and weakened into a Cyclonic Storm,” the IMD said in its 2:30 a.m. update, adding that the storm was being tracked continuously by Doppler radars at Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam.

The system was centred about 20 km west-northwest of Narsapur, 50 km northeast of Machilipatnam, and 90 km west-southwest of Kakinada. The IMD confirmed that the landfall process between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam had been completed shortly after midnight.

Coastal Andhra battered by rain, power outages

Heavy rain and gale-force winds lashed coastal districts — including West Godavari, Krishna, and East Godavari — uprooting trees, damaging power lines, and flooding low-lying areas. Power outages were reported from several stretches, including the Manginapudi Beach Road in Machilipatnam, where a palm tree brought down power cables.

Authorities imposed a night curfew on vehicle movement in seven cyclone-hit districts — Krishna, Eluru, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju — from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., allowing only emergency medical services.

District Collectors and Superintendents of Police were directed to halt all road traffic, including on national highways. Officials urged residents to remain indoors and heed safety advisories.

Flights and trains hit; one death reported

Cyclone Montha disrupted air and rail traffic across Andhra Pradesh. Authorities cancelled 32 flights in Visakhapatnam, 16 in Vijayawada, and four in Tirupati. The South Central Railway scrapped over 120 train services across the zone on Monday and Tuesday.

At least one fatality was reported in Konaseema district, where a woman died after a tree uprooted by strong winds fell on her home in Makanagudem village.

Machilipatnam recorded 5.2 mm of rainfall, Narsapur 9.8 mm, Tuni 15.6 mm, Kakinada 5.7 mm, and Visakhapatnam 0.2 mm by October 29 morning. Nellore district reported continuous rainfall for 36 hours, with some areas receiving up to 7 cm.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed 45 teams for rescue and relief operations across vulnerable regions.

Odisha on high alert as Montha moves inland

Neighboring Odisha remained on alert as the storm’s remnants moved northwards. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said over 11,000 people had been relocated to 2,048 disaster relief centres across eight southern districts. Entry to tourist spots such as Deomali and Mahendragiri hills was restricted, and schools and anganwadi centres were shut in nine districts until October 30.

The East Coast Railway announced diversions and cancellations of several trains, while government employees’ leave was suspended till October 30. Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea along the Odisha coast until October 29.

The IMD issued red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam, with orange and yellow warnings for several adjoining districts.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed preparedness with East Coast and South Central Railway officials, directing close coordination with state administrations and disaster management agencies to ensure passenger safety and rapid restoration.