The Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) Montha made landfall off the coast of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening, causing significant disruption in the southern state. Neighbouring Odisha also felt the impact, with normal life affected in 15 districts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the landfall process began around 7 pm and the system will cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada.
The storm, The storm, which is named for the Thai word for ‘fragrant flower, made landfall with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90 to 100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.
Andhra Pradesh experienced immediate and severe consequences from Cyclone Montha. Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm, Nellore district in Andhra recorded the highest amount of rainfall on Tuesday.
One woman tragically died in Makanagudem village under Konaseema district when an uprooted palmyra tree fell on her, PTI reported as said by a police officer.
The cyclone destroyed standing crops across 38,000 hectares and severely damaged horticulture crops in 1.38 lakh hectares.
The government shifted nearly 76,000 people to relief camps, set up 219 medical camps, and arranged 865 tonnes of animal fodder. Vehicle movement was suspended in affected districts, including Krishna, Eluru, and Kakinada, from 8.30 pm Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday, with only emergency services exempted.
Indian Railways cancelled, diverted and rescheduled multiple coaching trains across the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway Zone on Tuesday.
Similarly, the South Central Railway (SCR) Zone cancelled 120 trains in total on Monday and Tuesday, said an official.
All 32 flights operating out of Visakhapatnam Airport and 16 flights from Vijayawada Airport were cancelled.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu informed that 3,778 villages were forecast to receive heavy rain, and immediate efforts were underway to clear fallen trees cleared in several districts, along with sanitation work and efforts to ease rain water flow.
Cyclone Montha triggered heavy rainfall to the coastal and southern districts in Odisha, causing landslides, uprooting trees, and damaging houses, officials said.
Preliminary damage reports were received from eight southern districts of Odisha, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur.
Normal life, however, was affected in a total of 15 districts in the region. Landslides were a major concern, with big boulders blocking roads to five villages in Gajapati district.
“The place was earlier identified as landslide landslide-prone area. Therefore, arrangements have been made for early clearance of the blockade,” said Balakrushna Mallick, a local panchayat functionary.
Trees were uprooted in Rayagada district’s Gunupur, Gudari and Ramnaguda areas. A report from Mohana in Gajapati district said a mud-walled house collapsed due to incessant rains, injuring one person. The tin roof of a house in the area was blown away in strong winds, an official said.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed preparations for the possible impact of Cyclone Montha and said that the government’s primary goal remains ‘Zero Casualty.’ He further informed that over 2,000 cyclone shelters were set up to accommodate the affected people.
Over 6,000 personnel from 153 rescue teams (NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Service) were positioned in vulnerable areas across the eight southern districts and responding to the situations, the CM said.
The administration has already announced the closure of schools and anganwadi centres in nine districts till October 30. The leave of government employees has also been cancelled till October 30.
The administration has also sealed all beaches to prevent tourists and local people from entering the shores, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) D K Singh said.
