Andhra Pradesh and Odisha prepared their bays and braced for the arrival of Cyclone Montha. The conditions that could lead to the cyclone have been amplifying in the Bay of Bengal, gathering steam to pound the states late Thursday with intensified force. It is believed that, in its most deadly form, the cyclone could strike the coastal regions with wind speeds of around 90–110 kmph.
Montha was located around 83 km from Andhra’s Kakinada and 930 km from Odisha’s Gopalpur late Sunday. Based on the available data, the cyclone is expected to make landfall somewhere between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam.
At least five districts in Andhra Pradesh – Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru, and West Godavari – were on high alert, implementing a slew of contingency measures to minimize the impact.
West Godavari authorities announced holidays for schools and colleges on October 27 and 28, besides suspending all recreational activities at beaches and resorts. Similar school closures were mandated in Eluru. Telecom companies have been asked to set up generators to ensure mobile towers function without interruption. People living in dilapidated buildings and low-lying areas have been shifted to safer locations.
In Odisha, the authorities have mapped eight districts as red zones. The areas designated as red zones include Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Kalahandi.
These places are expected to witness the most severe impact, with extremely heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Also Read: Rajasthan: School Principal Suspended Over Checking Girl Student’s Mobile Gallery And WhatsApp
