The Odisha government is actively evacuating people from vulnerable areas amid light rains in eight southern districts of the state, where a “red alert” has been issued, as the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal strengthened into the cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ on Monday.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said officials, local people’s representatives, Anganwadi workers, ASHA didis, and others are currently persuading residents of vulnerable areas to move to safer places.
The evacuation drive prioritises pregnant women, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities, and is set to be completed by 5 pm on Monday, well before the forecast increase in wind and rain intensity, according to the minister.
Noting that some people are hesitant to move to relief centres, the minister assured that police will guard their houses while they take shelter in cyclone centres. He informed that all arrangements—including food, medicine, and lighting—have been made at the shelters, with provisions also set for domestic animals.
Pujari stated that 128 rescue teams, comprising over 5,000 personnel, from the NDRF, ODRAF, and Odisha Fire Service have already been deployed to the eight vulnerable districts – Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.
He further informed that a ‘red warning’ (take action) has been issued for these eight districts, predicting extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds gusting up to 80 kmph.
The minister said stressed the government’s priority is to ensure “zero casualty” and arrangements have been made to minimise damage by taking advance measures. He mentioned that special attention is being given to hilly areas, particularly in Gajapati, Koraput, and Malkangiri, due to the possibility of landslides.
Pujari stated that pre-cyclone light rains have begun in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, and Ganjam, and while rainfall started Monday, the full intensity of rain and wind will witnessed on October 28 and 29, as forecast by the IMD.
He noted that reports of these pre-cyclone light rains came as a result of the cyclone ‘Montha’ (which means fragrant flower or beautiful flower in the Thai language) beginning its move toward the east coast at a speed of 18 kmph.
The system is currently located at 600 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 750 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha), Pujari said.
The minister stressed, pointing out that the cyclone’s increased speed of 18 kmph (up from 6 kmph on Sunday) is favourable for the state. He explained that a faster-moving cyclone reaches the coast sooner, preventing it from gathering more energy in the sea, thereby suggesting the expected damages may be less severe.
All districts across the state have been put on alert and instructed to prepare personnel and equipment for rescue operations should the impending cyclone unexpectedly change its trajectory.
The minister added that the state government is in contact with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and may hire their chopper if necessary. He said that Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) D K Singh is in touch with the ICG, and noted that some Andhra Pradesh fishing vessels have been moved to Odisha waters due to rough sea conditions there.
The SRC said all the schools and Anganwadi centres are closed in the eight southern districts till October 30 in the wake of the impending calamity. He said power backup has also been made in all critical institutions like hospitals and drinking water supply units.
“The power distribution company has been asked to restore electricity within 24 hours of the cyclone crossing the districts,” the SRC said.
The weather office also hoisted Distant Cautionary Signal No-I (DC-1) at all ports of Odisha and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea till October 29.
In its bulletin at 1.45 pm of Monday, the IMD said, “The cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ over Southwest & adjoining areas of Bay of Bengal moved with a speed of 18 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 0830 hours of Monday at about 570 km of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 600 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 750 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha).”
The system is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28, the weather office said.
“Continuing to move further north-northwestwards, it is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening/night of 28th October as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmp,” the statement said.
