High alert has been issued in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as cyclone Montha is all set to turn into a 'severe' cyclonic storm and make landfall by Tuesday evening.
Around 1419 villages and 44 towns are likely to be impacted as the cyclone will cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kakinada in the evening or night.
According to an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, the cyclone lay about 450 km south to southeast of Kakinada, 420 km east of Chennai, 500 km south to southeast of Visakhapatnam and 670 km south to southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha).
The system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning, and is likely to make landfall with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph (and) gusting up to 110 kmph.
Cyclone Alert !
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 27, 2025
Cyclonic Storm #Montha over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by 28th October morning.
Expected landfall: Between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam (around Kakinada) by evening/night of 28th Oct.
Wind Speed: 90–100 km/h,… pic.twitter.com/SXOFglAEQO
"It is expected to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh by Tuesday evening or night between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around the Kakinada area. Most districts in Andhra Pradesh will experience extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds," IMD Hyderabad official GNRS Srinivasa Rao told ANI news agency.
A storm surge of about one metre above astronomical tide is expected to cause inundation in low-lying areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam around landfall time, according to the IMD.
Andhra braces for landfall
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Prakhar Jain said the cyclone is likely to impact 1,419 villages in 233 mandals and 44 municipalities. As many as 2,194 relief camps have been opened in these areas.
The authorities have set up 558 control rooms across the state, while special attention has been paid to 3,465 pregnant women/nursing mothers for care.
Cyclone Montha intensifies further into a SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM and very likely to move close to Godavari belts. As indicated earlier, Heavy rainfall started to increase along #Nellore and #Prakasam districts while rounds of Moderate showers spreading along entire North AP and… pic.twitter.com/5F9C8bYIez
— Andhra Pradesh Weatherman (@praneethweather) October 28, 2025
All beaches have been closed for tourists, and danger signal number one has been hoisted at all ports.
Eleven teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the coastal districts for relief operations.
As a precautionary measure, South Central Railway and East Coast Railway have cancelled over 100 trains for the next two days.
Over 3,000 people evacuated in Odisha
In Odisha, 140 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Services have been deployed across eight high-risk districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur.
Info | Cyclone #Montha
— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) October 27, 2025
In view of the impending cyclone 'Montha' and possible heavy rainfall in Khordha District, all schools & Anganwadi centres shall remain closed on 28th and 29th October, 2025. pic.twitter.com/Ar5TyZQLFc
Over 3,000 people have been evacuated to 1,445 cyclone shelters in southern Odisha. The authorities are also planning to shift another 32,528 people to safer locations as a precaution.
R&DM Minister Suresh Pujari said as many as 1,496 pregnant women have already been shifted to nearby Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs)
