Severe cyclone Montha makes landfall near Narasapur in Andhra, triggering heavy rain in Odisha

The severe cyclonic storm Montha made landfall late Tuesday night near Narasapur, south of Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam along the Andhra Pradesh coast. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process began around 11:30 pm and continued until 4:30 am, lasting nearly five hours.

During the landfall, wind speeds reached 90–100 kmph, with gusts touching up to 110 kmph. Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds battered several coastal areas, including Machilipatnam, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Bapatla, Kavali, Ulavapadu, and Nellore. Rough sea conditions were reported as high tidal waves breached the shore in many areas.

IMD officials confirmed that Montha crossed the coast south of Kakinada, contrary to earlier forecasts predicting landfall near Kakinada itself. The storm’s remnants have now moved inland, bringing widespread rain over interior Andhra Pradesh.

Despite the intensity of the system, the cyclone did not cause large-scale destruction as initially feared. As of now, no major damage reports have surfaced from the affected districts. Authorities, however, remain on alert as heavy rain is likely to continue over the next two days along the Andhra coast.

The cyclone’s impact on Odisha has remained limited. The system’s altered path after landfall spared the state from severe weather, though southern Odisha districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam have experienced moderate to heavy rainfall. In some hilly regions, landslides were reported following continuous rain, with trees uprooted in parts of Gajapati and Malkangiri.

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Authorities in both states continue to monitor the situation closely as Montha weakens while moving northwestward inland.