Cyclone Montha unleashed its fury across Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha on Tuesday, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and widespread disruption to daily life. The severe cyclonic storm, which made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, just south of Kakinada, has now weakened into a cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed.
The landfall process began around 7 p.m., accompanied by intense rainfall and winds gusting up to 110 kmph. According to IMD officials, the storm system crossed the Andhra coast late Tuesday evening, leaving a trail of damage in several coastal districts before moving inland.
Andhra Pradesh Bears the Brunt
In Andhra Pradesh, strong gales uprooted trees, damaged power lines, and caused severe waterlogging in low-lying areas. In Konaseema, a woman was killed after a palmyra tree was uprooted by powerful winds and fell on her, police said. District authorities have begun clearing operations and restoring electricity in affected areas.
Rainfall continued through the night in East and West Godavari, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Krishna districts, with several rural roads submerged and communication networks disrupted. Disaster response teams were deployed to handle emergencies and prevent further casualties.
Odisha Hit by Mudslides and Power Outages
Neighbouring Odisha also felt the cyclone’s impact, with 15 districts experiencing torrential rainfall and gusty winds. The heavy downpour triggered mudslides and minor flooding in hilly areas, while power cuts were reported from parts of Gajapati, Ganjam, and Rayagada districts.
Authorities in Odisha said evacuation efforts had been carried out in vulnerable coastal and hilly regions ahead of landfall. Schools and Anganwadi centres in several districts remained closed as a precautionary measure.
Cyclone Weakens but Rain to Continue
The IMD said Cyclone Montha has now weakened into a cyclonic storm, but the system continues to dump heavy rain across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana, with residual effects expected in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal over the next 48 hours.
The department warned of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas and advised fishermen to stay away from the sea until further notice.
Winds of 100 kmph Recorded
The storm brought maximum sustained wind speeds between 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph along the Andhra coast. IMD said the intensity will gradually reduce as the system moves inland toward central India.
Meanwhile, disaster management officials are on high alert, coordinating with state governments to assess crop damage and infrastructure loss. Relief camps have been set up in cyclone-affected zones, and emergency helplines have been activated.
As Cyclone Montha continues to move northwestward, authorities remain cautious about flash floods and landslides, urging citizens to stay indoors and follow official advisories until conditions stabilize.
