Cyclone Montha Hits Andhra Pradesh, Causes Heavy Rain and Disruptions

Impact of Cyclone Montha in Andhra Pradesh

On Wednesday morning, following the passage of Cyclone Montha near Narasapur in West Godavari district, Vijayawada experienced strong winds and heavy rainfall, leading to uprooted trees and flooded roads, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A bulletin released by IMD at 5 AM indicated that after crossing the coast, the cyclone moved northwest at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour over the last six hours and has slowed down.

According to the IMD, the severe cyclonic storm Montha crossed the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh between 11:30 PM on October 28 and 12:30 AM on October 29. The crossing process lasted approximately five hours, starting around 7:30 PM on Tuesday and concluding at 12:30 AM.

By 2:30 AM, Montha was located 230 kilometers southwest of Visakhapatnam. The weather department stated that the cyclone is expected to continue moving northwest across the Andhra coast and will remain intense for the next six hours before gradually weakening into a deep depression.

Heavy Rainfall and Transportation Disruptions

Under the influence of the cyclone, rainfall was recorded in various locations, including 5.2 mm in Machilipatnam at 8:30 AM, followed by 9.8 mm in Narasapur, 15.6 mm in Tuni, 5.7 mm in Kakinada, and 0.2 mm in Visakhapatnam. Nellore district has also seen continuous rainfall for the past 36 hours, averaging five centimeters in the last 24 hours, with some areas receiving up to seven centimeters, according to an official.

The official added that heavy rainfall is expected to continue for the next 12 hours, and monitoring teams are on alert in sensitive urban and rural areas.

Casualties and Flight Cancellations

A police official reported that a woman died in Makangudem village of Konaseema district when a tree fell on her due to the strong winds. The cyclone has also disrupted flight operations in Andhra Pradesh, with 32 flights canceled at Visakhapatnam Airport, 16 at Vijayawada Airport, and four at Tirupati Airport.

Additionally, a railway official stated that a total of 120 trains were canceled in the South Central Railway (SCR) zone on Monday and Tuesday due to the cyclone. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 45 teams for relief and rescue operations as the cyclone approached the Andhra coast.

Odisha on Alert

Odisha, which borders Andhra Pradesh, is on high alert due to the threat posed by Cyclone Montha. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that over 2,000 disaster relief centers have been established in eight southern districts for those likely to be affected by the severe cyclone.

He mentioned that 11,396 people have been relocated to the 2,048 disaster relief centers opened by the state government. Tourists have been prohibited from entering sites like Devamali and Mahendragiri hills, and access to various beaches along the coastline has been restricted. Schools and anganwadi centers in nine districts will remain closed until October 30 due to the cyclone.

Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway has announced the cancellation, rerouting, and temporary suspension of some trains operating in the Waltair region and connected routes. Government employees' holidays have also been canceled until October 30.

The state government has advised fishermen not to venture into the Bay of Bengal near the Odisha coast until October 29. The IMD confirmed early Wednesday that after crossing the Andhra coast, the severe cyclonic storm Montha weakened into a cyclonic storm, resulting in heavy rainfall and strong winds in several coastal districts on Tuesday evening.

Current Status of Cyclone Montha

The IMD reported in its 2:30 AM update that the severe cyclonic storm Montha has weakened into a cyclonic storm, moving northwest at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour over coastal Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone is expected to maintain its intensity for the next six hours before weakening further into a deep depression.

Recent observations indicate that the cyclone's remnants have entered the land. In Konaseema district, the storm caused the death of a woman due to a fallen tree. The cyclone's impact has resulted in the destruction of crops across 38,000 hectares and damage to horticultural crops over 138,000 hectares.

Official Updates

(A) Severe Cyclonic Storm “Montha” [Pronunciation: Mon-Tha] weakened into a Cyclonic Storm over coastal Andhra Pradesh

The Severe Cyclonic Storm “Montha” [Pronunciation: Mon-Tha] over coastal Andhra Pradesh moved nearly northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past six… pic.twitter.com/cDQmMDqdVm

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 28, 2025