Cyclone Montha: 60 trawler crews, 10 fishermen from Andhra rescued in Odisha

Under the impact of a severe cyclonic disturbance, the sea has turned turbulent along the Odisha coast, disrupting fishing operations. Around sixty trawlers from Andhra Pradesh were caught last night in the rough waters off Gopalpur in Ganjam district.

Also Read: IMD warns of heavy rain, strong winds in Odisha as severe Cyclone Montha approaches Andhra coast

However, the Gopalpur Port authorities acted promptly, rescuing all the stranded trawlers late Monday night and ensuring the safety of ten fishermen. After being brought ashore, the rescued crew were given cooked meals and dry food supplies by port officials.

In a separate incident, a fishing trawler from Visakhapatnam got trapped in the Brahmagiri–Baliharchandi sea in Puri district due to the same cyclonic system. Ten fishermen aboard the vessel were stranded at sea after their anchor unfortunately snapped.

The fishermen drifted for several hours before safely reaching the shore. All ten have been rescued and are reported to be safe. Authorities have advised fishermen along the coast to refrain from venturing into the sea until the rough weather condition stabilises.

Notably, severe cyclonic storm Montha is rapidly approaching the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to make landfall near Kakinada between the evening and night later today.

The weather system, which has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, is currently moving at a speed of 12 kmph, with its centre located about 160 km from Machilipatnam, 240 km from Kakinada, 320 km from Visakhapatnam, and 530 km from Gopalpur, Odisha.

The approaching storm has churned up the sea, generating high waves and rough weather conditions, while coastal wind has intensified, accompanied by thunder and heavy rain.

Reported By: Ashok Brahma and Rabinarayan