Cyclone Montha Loses Strength After Hitting Andhra Coast; Torrential Rains Cause Widespread Damage, 1 Fatality Reported

Cyclone Montha Weakens After Andhra Pradesh Landfall, Heavy Rains Lash Coastal Areas; 1 Dead, Odisha on High Alert.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said early Wednesday that Cyclone Montha weakened into a cyclonic storm after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to several coastal districts.

In its 2:30 a.m. update, the IMD reported that “the Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha over coastal Andhra Pradesh moved northwestwards at a speed of 10 kmph and weakened into a Cyclonic Storm.” The system was centered about 20 km west-northwest of Narsapur, 50 km northeast of Machilipatnam, and 90 km west-southwest of Kakinada.

The storm’s weakening was in line with forecasts as it moved inland, though heavy rains continued to pound the coastal districts of West Godavari, Krishna, and East Godavari. Authorities issued flood warnings for low-lying areas, while disaster response teams remained on high alert.

Earlier, Cyclone Montha made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around midnight, accompanied by intense rain and gale-force winds that uprooted trees, damaged power lines, and disrupted electricity supply across multiple districts.

Andhra Pradesh Imposes Night Curfew

The Andhra Pradesh government suspended vehicular movement in seven cyclone-affected districts — Krishna, Eluru, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and parts of Alluri Sitarama Raju — from 8:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Only emergency and medical vehicles were exempted.

District authorities have urged residents to remain indoors and follow safety advisories. In Machilipatnam, power supply was disrupted after strong winds brought down trees and power lines.

Flights, Trains Cancelled

Cyclone Montha also hit transportation networks across Andhra Pradesh. At least 32 flights from Visakhapatnam, 16 from Vijayawada, and four from Tirupati were cancelled. The South Central Railway (SCR) Zone also cancelled 120 trains over two days due to adverse weather conditions.

A woman died in Konaseema district after being struck by a tree uprooted in strong winds, local police said.

Odisha on High Alert

In neighbouring Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state had opened over 2,000 disaster relief centres across eight southern districts, with more than 11,000 people already evacuated. The state government also ordered schools and anganwadi centres closed in nine districts until October 30.

Tourists have been barred from visiting hilly and coastal destinations such as Deomali and Mahendragiri, while fishermen have been advised not to venture into the Bay of Bengal until October 29.

IMD Issues Red Alert

The IMD issued a red alert for five districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam — predicting extremely heavy rainfall. An orange alert was issued for 11 other districts, including Kalahandi, Khurda, and Puri.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the preparedness of East Coast and South Central Railways, directing officials to ensure passenger safety, train regulation, and coordination with local administrations.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 45 teams for rescue and relief operations across affected regions as Cyclone Montha continues to weaken while moving further inland.