As Cyclone Montha churns over the west-central Bay of Bengal, southern and eastern India brace for impact with schools shuttered, rescue forces mobilised, and coastal warnings intensified.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on October 28 said the system, now a severe cyclonic storm, is expected to make landfall near Kakinada between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on the Andhra Pradesh coast late on October 28, packing winds of 90–110 kmph and bringing torrential rain.

Andhra Pradesh on high alert

In Andhra Pradesh, the state government has declared holidays for schools and colleges across multiple coastal districts — including Kakinada, East and West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, Konaseema, and Visakhapatnam — after heavy rains and gusty winds lashed the region overnight.

District authorities have been instructed to ensure student safety and closely monitor weather developments.

In Konaseema, a woman died after strong winds uprooted a tree that fell on her house, officials confirmed. Continuous rainfall was reported from Nellore, Machilipatnam, and Tuni, with 5–15 mm of precipitation recorded since morning.

Emergency response teams have been deployed in cyclone-prone areas, and the state has secured fuel and food supplies to withstand potential disruptions.

Odisha activates 1,400 cyclone shelters, shuts schools in 9 districts

In neighbouring Odisha, the government has closed all schools and anganwadi centres across nine districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal — until October 30. Over 1,400 cyclone shelters have been activated to accommodate residents from flood- and landslide-prone zones.

The Odisha Disaster Management Department has positioned 140 rescue teams — comprising over 5,000 personnel from NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Services — across vulnerable regions.

“Fishermen have been strictly warned against venturing into the sea till October 29,” said Special Relief Commissioner D.K. Singh, adding that sea beaches have been sealed and train services curtailed in the Waltair region.

Ports including Gopalpur, Paradip, Dhamra, Puri, and Chandbali have been placed under local cautionary and distant warning signals.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is expected to review preparedness measures later today.

Tamil Nadu braces for heavy rain and flooding

Although Tamil Nadu is outside the cyclone’s direct path, the IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts for coastal districts including Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Thoothukudi.

Heavy rainfall is expected through October 28, prompting local administrations in Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Thoothukudi to declare school holidays.

The Chennai Corporation has ramped up stormwater drain clearance and emergency operations to avert urban flooding. Fishermen have been urged to stay ashore as sea conditions worsen.

Cyclone Montha — meaning “fragrant flower” in Thai — began as a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal on October 26, intensifying into a severe storm within two days.

As it edges closer to the Andhra coast, authorities across multiple states remain on alert, with evacuations, power backups, and rescue forces positioned to mitigate potential devastation.