Cyclone ‘Montha’ Intensifies into a Severe Storm, Set to Hit Andhra’s Kakinada Coast; Over 50,000 Evacuated

 The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, warning of wind speeds reaching 90–110 kmph and waves as high as 5 meters (16 feet).

The cyclone’s center is currently located around 190 km southeast of Machilipatnam, gradually moving northwestward. Rough sea conditions and strong winds have already been reported along the coastal belts, forcing authorities to suspend over 55 train services and shut down fishing activities.

Disaster management teams have evacuated more than 50,000 residents from vulnerable coastal villages to safer shelters. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, while power and communication teams remain on standby.

According to the IMD, the cyclone will also bring heavy rainfall over Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand over the next three days.

The name Montha was given by Thailand, meaning a fragrant flower in the Thai language.