Cyclone Montha: Storm approaches Andhra coast as landfall process begins

Cyclone Montha is heading towards Andhra Pradesh coast as the landfall process commenced on Tuesday evening. It is expected to bring maximum sustained wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.

The landfall process is expected to continue for three to four hours as the cyclonic storm is set to cross the Andhra coast between Machilipatnam and Kanagaratnam around Kakinada, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The cyclone, which is moving north-northwestwards at 15 kmph, was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 4.30 pm, which is about 50 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 130 km south of Kakinada, and 230 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam.

IMD said Cyclone Montha will continue to move north-northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Thousands of people on the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have been moved to safer places. A woman died in Makanagudem village of Konaseema district after a tree was uprooted in strong gales and fell on her. 

Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable coastal areas to remain indoors and follow official safety instructions until conditions improve.

The cyclone has resulted in heavy rains in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, with residential areas near Chennai getting flooded. Cyclone Montha intensified into a severe cyclonic storm around 5.30 am on Tuesday.

The Indian Railways cancelled, diverted and rescheduled multiple trains across the Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway Zone.

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) announced traffic restrictions in districts affected by Cyclone Montha due to heavy rainfall. Heavy vehicles on national highways were halted from 7 pm onwards as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.