Cyclone Montha has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall between Kakinada and Kalingapatnam along the Andhra Pradesh coast by late tonight. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by strong winds ranging from 90 to 110 km/h, in several coastal districts including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, and East Godavari.
In view of the possible impact, the Andhra Pradesh government has declared a red alert in these districts and evacuated more than 70,000 residents from low-lying coastal areas to safer shelters. Schools and Anganwadi centres in vulnerable regions will remain closed on 28th and 29th October 2025 as a precautionary measure. NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed across the affected areas to manage rescue and relief operations, while local administrations have activated control rooms and emergency helplines.
The IMD has also issued warnings for fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea, as sea conditions are expected to remain extremely rough. Train and flight services in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada divisions have been partially suspended, and power utilities have been placed on high alert to respond to possible outages and infrastructure damage.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has urged citizens to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official updates from the State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) and IMD. Garuda Sambada will continue to bring the latest and verified updates on Cyclone Montha as the situation develops along the Andhra coast.
