Cyclone Montha Update: States on Alert as Storm Nears Landfall — What to Expect

Odisha: Cyclone Montha is becoming increasingly powerful. The Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that it may hit the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, by this evening or night. Due to its effect, the wind speed can reach 90 to 100 kilometers per hour. There is a possibility of heavy rain at many places in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

In which districts is an alert issued?

GNRS Srinivas Rao of IMD Hyderabad said that an orange alert has been issued in Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu districts. A yellow alert has been implemented for the remaining northeastern districts. In Odisha too, heavy rain is expected for the next two to three days. Bhubaneswar IMD's Manorama Mohanty said the cyclone will become more intense by morning.

What instructions did Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu give?

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to immediately shift people from vulnerable coastal areas to relief camps. He said that clean water and good food should be provided in relief camps. Along with this, district collectors have been ordered to monitor the tanks and canals so that pollution of water can be prevented.

What are the preparations in Odisha?

123 fire units have been deployed in Odisha, and eight districts have been declared red zones. Odraf teams are ready with boats, rafts, and generators. In view of the possibility of landslides, additional teams have been sent to Gajapati and Ganjam districts. 30 boats that came from Machilipatnam have been kept safe at Gopalpur port.

Are NDRF and SDRF on alert?

11 NDRF and 12 SDRF teams have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh. The fire service, swimmers, and ambulance are fully prepared. Funds have been released for relief work. The state government has prepared a complete plan to keep the loss of life and damage to a minimum.

The Meteorological Department has advised fishermen not to go into the sea for the next 48 hours. Apart from this, instructions have been given to keep schools and colleges in coastal areas closed as a precautionary measure. The administration has kept special teams ready to maintain the smooth functioning of electricity and communication systems. At the same time, warning messages are being continuously sent to people living in coastal areas so that immediate evacuation can be done in case of any emergency.