Cyclone Montha to make landfall near Machilipatnam–Kalingapatnam on Oct 28. IMD issues heavy rain alerts in Andhra, Odisha and Bengal; schools closed, evacuation underway.
Cyclone Montha Set to Hit Andhra Coast on October 28
Cyclone Montha intensified rapidly over the southeast Bay of Bengal and is forecast to make landfall on the Andhra coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam during the evening or night of October 28, the India Meteorological Department said. The system, upgraded from a deep depression to a cyclonic storm on October 26, is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28, prompting pre-emptive warnings and a full-scale preparedness drive along the east coast.
State governments in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal have put coastal districts on alert, issuing heavy-rain and gale warnings for low-lying areas. Local authorities announced precautionary measures including temporary suspension of schools in vulnerable districts, closure of coastal fishing operations and deployment of disaster response teams to carry out evacuations where required.
Satellite imagery and forecast tracks show the cyclone tracking north-northwest toward the coast, bringing the threat of storm surge, very heavy rainfall and gusty winds across the Bay of Bengal belt. Meteorologists warn of intense rainfall that could cause flash floods and coastal inundation in the landfall zone; river catchments and urban drains in affected districts may experience sudden waterlogging.
