Residents of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are on high alert as Cyclone Montha intensifies and approaches the east coast. The meteorological department forecasts the storm will strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm, with landfall anticipated between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada. High sea waves, reaching up to 4.7 meters, are expected along the Andhra Pradesh coastline. The Odisha government has ordered evacuations in vulnerable southern districts, raising the alert level to ‘red’. Over 140 rescue teams from NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Services are now deployed to manage the potential crisis. Cyclone Montha, currently moving northwest at about 15 km per hour, is located hundreds of kilometers off the coast of Machilipatnam, Kakinada, and Visakhapatnam. The storm is projected to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm, accompanied by wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, potentially gusting to 110 kmph. Disaster response forces have been strategically positioned across affected states, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh. Authorities are urging coastal communities to relocate to designated relief camps and advising fishermen to stay ashore due to the dangerous sea conditions. Beaches have been closed to the public as a safety precaution.
