Cyclone Montha is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada on Tuesday evening or night as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kmph with gusts up to 110 kmph, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. A red alert was issued for 16 districts in the state on Tuesday (October 28, 2025)
Cyclonic storm Montha on Monday (October 27, 2025) caused heavy rainfall in three districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and moderate rainfall in other stations of the state.
Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Anakapalli received light to heavy rainfall between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm on Monday, while stations in the central region and south coast of AP received light showers. While a red alert was in effect in seven districts, no extremely heavy rainfall was reported till 7:00 p.m.
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Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to ensure that relief reaches the public without delay.
According to rainfall data compiled by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Jathara in Visakhapatnam district had the highest rainfall for the day at 92.25 mm, followed by Madhurawada with 86 mm and Kapuluppada with 85.25 mm. Other stations in the district, including those inside the city, received around 70-80 mm. In Anakapalli district, Sabbavaram received 67.5 mm and Rajam received 62.5 mm. Other stations received less than 60 mm.
Red alerts issued for SPSR districts Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram for Monday will remain till 8.30 am on Tuesday, IMD said.
Red alerts were issued for 16 districts and orange alerts for five districts on Tuesday. Except SPSR Nellore and eight districts of Rayalaseema region, all other districts are under red alert as isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely, with the cyclonic storm likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning, the IMD added.
It said a cyclonic storm over the central west and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moving northwest at 13 km/ha remained over the same area at 8:30 p.m. It was located 400 km east-northeast of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, 410 km south-southeast of Kakinash in Andréshrakouth province and 640 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha.
It is likely to move north-northwest and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning. It continues further north-northwestward and is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum wind speed of 90-100 kmph in the evening or night.
Meanwhile, India’s National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued an alert for the state as high waves in the range of 2.0-4.7 meters are expected off the coast of Andhra Pradesh from Nellore to Srikakulam between 5.30pm and 11.30pm on Monday. A storm surge of about 1 meter above astronomical tide is likely to cause flooding in low-lying areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh, the company said.
Preparedness
In a high-level meeting on Monday, Mr. Naidu directed officials to issue hourly bulletins and real-time updates on Cyclone Montha. He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally inquired about the impact of the cyclone and the preparedness of the state and ensured all possible assistance.
Mr. Naidu ordered deployment of satellite phones and other mobile towers and directed officials to keep 3,211 generators ready across 110 mandals for power backup in 2,707 villages.
The Chief Minister directed that teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF remain on standby and the fire protection, electricity, roads and buildings and Panchayat Raj departments remain on full alert.
Officials have been told to quickly restore infrastructure if roads are breached, trees down or power lines damaged. He ordered that post-cyclone sanitation be given high priority to prevent disease outbreaks and that 108 and 104 medical vehicles be kept on standby to provide medical care to pregnant women and new mothers.
Mr. Naidu also directed officials to immediately evacuate residents living in coastal areas threatened by Cyclone Montha to designated rehabilitation centers.
Mr. Naidu directed that 851 earthmoving machines and 757 chainsaws be deployed in vulnerable areas.
Meanwhile, in Kakinada and Konaseema areas, which are likely to bear the brunt of the storm, nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated while 126 pregnant women have been taken to hospitals.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said as many as 787 pregnant women have been shifted to nearby hospitals in four districts of Krishna, East Godavari, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema and Eluru.
Health camps are being organized in 551 rehabilitation centers set up in all the 17 districts likely to be affected and all districts are on high alert, with officials’ leaves being cancelled.
Published – 27 October 2025 22:50 IST
