Cyclone ‘Montha’ nears Kakinada coast, landfall tonight; Odisha braces for severe gusts, heavy rainfall

Cyclone Montha, in the past 24 hours, intensified further over the west-central Bay of Bengal, and is inching closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast with landfall expected tonight between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the system is centred around 230 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam and 310 km south-southwest of Kakinada, and is moving northward at about 17 kmph, as of early Tuesday morning.

Cyclone to Make Landfall as Severe Storm

According to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Cyclone Montha will cross the coast as a severe cyclonic storm, packing wind speeds of 90 to 100 kmph with gusts up to 110 kmph. As the system progresses inland through southern Odisha towards Chhattisgarh, it is expected to weaken gradually into a deep depression by Wednesday.

Reports added that since early morning today, strong winds accompanied by heavy rain and roaring sea waves have lashed the Kakinada and Suryapet coastal belt. Visuals showed that the sea has turned turbulent, with high tidal surges and powerful gusts sweeping through the region. 

Further, continuous drizzle since Monday night has intensified into steady rainfall as the cyclone draws nearer.

ALSO READ: IMD DG explains the likely impact of cyclone ‘Montha’ on Odisha

Heavy Rain Forecast for Southern Odisha

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of southern Odisha, especially in Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Ganjam districts. The cyclone, after crossing the Andhra coast, is likely to move north-northwestward and weaken while entering the state late tonight or early Wednesday morning.

Wind speeds in southern Odisha are expected to reach 60 to 70 kmph, occasionally gusting to 80 kmph, during the peak impact period between the night of October 28 and the morning of October 29.

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Extensive Preparedness Measures in Odisha

The Odisha government has stepped up disaster preparedness across vulnerable districts. Five National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Kandhamal, and Rayagada, equipped with inflatable boats, power chains, JCBs, and telescopic lights for emergency operations.

Similarly, 123 Fire Service units have been positioned under the Berhampur Revenue Division, while 144 units remain on standby in the Cuttack division. In coastal areas, 100 trained lifeguards have been stationed in Puri, with additional teams on alert in Gopalpur for sea-related emergencies.