The Cyclone Montha is following the same trajectory as anticipated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as it moves steadily towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. According to the present data, the cyclone is expected to make landfall near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, on Tuesday evening.
Cyclone Montha is expected to hit Andhra Pradesh as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum wind speed of 90–100 kmph. After hitting the Andhra coast, the cyclone is likely to slow down somewhat and move towards Odisha.
The cyclone is currently located 420 km from Chennai, 500 km from Visakhapatnam, and 450 km from Kakinada, moving at a speed of 15 km per hour. Heavy rains and strong winds have already added to the tribulations of the Andhra Pradesh coastline, and hence, the entire coastal belt has been placed on high alert.
Relief Measures
Amid the escalating dangers of the storm leaving devastation in its trail, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has reviewed the situation from the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre at the State Secretariat. Furthermore, the government has deployed 22 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) across all five states likely to be affected — Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh.
Official data has revealed that there is a high chance of the cyclone affecting 1,419 villages and 44 towns in Andhra Pradesh. Authorities have advised residents to remain indoors, while people in coastal areas have been asked to move to relief camps.
With the sea turning rough and the possibility of high tidal waves, fishermen have been advised to suspend all fishing activities and refrain from venturing into the sea. The Odisha government has begun evacuating people from vulnerable areas. Eight southern districts, where a red alert has been declared, are experiencing light rainfall, while other districts have been put on alert in case the cyclone changes its trajectory at the last moment.
