Evacuations and Rescue Operations Underway
Over 11,000 residents were evacuated from low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. In Andhra, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation from the Real-Time Governance Centre, joined by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and key officials. Authorities have established more than 3,000 rehabilitation centres stocked with essentials, while 600 relief camps in Kakinada alone are housing displaced families.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed that 2,000 disaster relief centres are operational, with 153 rescue teams, including NDRF and ODRAF units, deployed. The state has set a target of “zero casualties,” with schools and anganwadis in nine districts ordered shut until October 30.
Flights and Trains Disrupted
Air services were heavily affected as 18 flights connecting Hyderabad with Andhra cities such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Rajahmundry were cancelled due to safety concerns. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed the East Coast, South Central, and South Coast Railway zones to activate war rooms and stay on high alert. 32 trains were cancelled, and several others diverted or short-terminated to prevent passenger inconvenience.
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan Also Affected
As Cyclone Montha moved inland, the IMD’s Hyderabad centre issued red alerts for Bhadradri Kothagudem and Khammam districts in Telangana, with orange alerts across Warangal and Nalgonda. Tamil Nadu’s Chennai and Tiruvallur districts saw heavy rainfall and strong winds up to 110 kmph, prompting school closures and fishing bans. In Rajasthan, rainfall was recorded across Bundi, Bhilwara, and Udaipur due to Montha’s residual impact combined with other weather systems.
Ports and Coastal Areas on High Alert
Rough sea conditions and aggressive waves battered Andhra’s Uppada-Kakinada coastal stretch, damaging beach roads. The Gopalpur Port in Odisha and Chennai’s Pattinapakkam Beach also witnessed turbulent seas, with authorities restricting public access to beaches and fishing operations suspended until further notice.
Central and State Coordination Efforts
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) pre-deployed 25 teams across coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, with another 20 teams on standby. Each team is equipped with boats, communication systems, and rescue tools.
Chief Ministers across affected states have urged citizens to remain indoors, follow official advisories, and cooperate with rescue efforts as the cyclone moves further inland over the next 24 hours.
