Cyclone Montha Set to Hit Andhra Coast Near Kakinada; Massive Evacuations Underway in Andhra, Odisha, and Bengal
Nashik, October 27 — Cyclone Montha, brewing over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall near Kakinada on October 28 evening as a severe cyclonic storm packing winds up to 110 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
With the storm’s intensity increasing, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal have activated emergency preparedness, mass evacuations, and relief measures amid forecasts of heavy rainfall, flooding, and rough sea conditions along the east coast.
Cyclone Path and Intensity
The IMD said the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Montha early Saturday, moving northwest at around 15 kmph.
At 5:30 am on October 27, it was located near latitude 12.2°N and longitude 85.3°E — about 560 km east-southeast of Chennai, 620 km south-southeast of Kakinada, and 810 km west of Port Blair.
The storm is expected to move northwestwards for the next 12 hours before shifting north-northwestward toward the Andhra coast, making landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, close to Kakinada, by Sunday evening or night.
The IMD warned of extremely rough seas, gale-force winds, and widespread rainfall across coastal Andhra, southern Odisha, and parts of West Bengal.
Andhra Pradesh on High Alert
The Andhra Pradesh government has initiated a comprehensive action plan to tackle the cyclone, covering relief distribution, fuel and food supply management, and emergency shelter operations.
According to State Civil Supplies Minister N. Manohar, all coastal districts have received advance supplies of food grains, tarpaulins, ropes, and sandbags, with 40% of stock movement already completed. Fuel inventories and PDS commodities have been secured at mandal-level stock points.
District collectors have been instructed to ensure uninterrupted power backup at hospitals, control rooms, telecom towers, and cyclone shelters. Paddy procurement centres are being opened early, and over 1,500 rice mills linked with Rythu Service Kendras have been directed to provide drying yards for wet paddy.
Authorities have deployed NDRF and SDRF teams, cranes, and tree-cutting machines for debris clearance. Around 3,000 new electric poles have been readied to ensure quick restoration after the storm.
“People and fishermen should not venture out as heavy rainfall and high winds are expected across the coastal belt,” said APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain.
On the Visakhapatnam coast, Rishikonda and Sagar Nagar beaches have been closed, and tourists have been advised to stay away.
In Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, Collector R. Mahesh Kumar said that 6,000 families living in vulnerable coastal huts will be evacuated by Saturday evening. Holidays have been declared for all educational institutions on October 28 and 29, and 624 habitations have been designated as relief shelters.
Odisha Begins Mass Evacuations
In Odisha, the state government has begun moving residents from vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas as Cyclone Montha edges closer.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said 128 disaster response teams have been deployed across eight southern districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Kalahandi.
“Our goal is zero casualties. All evacuations will be completed by 5 pm on Monday,” Pujari said.
The IMD has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall and winds gusting up to 80 kmph. Over 5,000 trained personnel — including 24 ODRAF teams, five NDRF units, and 99 Fire Service teams — are on the ground.
Rainfall is expected to begin on Monday, intensifying between October 28 and 29.
Ports have been placed under Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1, and fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea until October 29.
West Bengal Issues Rainfall Warning
Though the cyclone will make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal is also expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall between October 28 and 31, particularly in the southern districts — Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, and Hooghly.
Fishermen have been advised to return to shore by October 27 and avoid venturing into the sea from October 28 to 30.
The IMD further predicted rainfall in north Bengal districts — Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Uttar Dinajpur, and Malda — between October 30 and 31 as the system moves northeastward.
Nationwide Monitoring and Response
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and IMD are monitoring the cyclone closely, coordinating with state governments and agencies. Disaster response forces have been deployed strategically across coastal regions, while the Indian Navy and Coast Guard remain on standby for rescue operations if required.
Officials reiterated that public cooperation and timely evacuation are crucial to minimizing damage and ensuring safety as Cyclone Montha approaches landfall.
