Cyclonic storm 'Montha', which formed over the Bay of Bengal, made a devastating landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh late Monday night, bringing life to a standstill in several regions. With wind speeds reaching between 100 to 110 kilometers per hour during its landfall near Machilipatnam, the cyclone caused widespread destruction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, assessing the situation and assuring full central support. Heavy rainfall has been lashing several districts of the state since Monday, leading to flood-like conditions. The storm is now moving towards Odisha, where it's expected to hit by Wednesday morning.
Extensive Damage in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh bore the brunt of Cyclone Montha's fury, with initial estimates from the Chief Minister's Office indicating that 38,000 hectares of standing crops and 1. 38 lakh hectares of horticulture crops were completely destroyed. The agricultural sector has suffered immense losses due to the strong winds and incessant rains. Manginapudi Beach was among the first areas hit, where gusty winds uprooted trees, blocking roads and disrupting traffic. Power supply in Machilipatnam was completely crippled as electricity poles collapsed and wires snapped, plunging the entire city into darkness, while numerous coastal homes were also damaged by high sea waves. Teams from the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations.
Massive Transport Disruptions
The cyclone has severely impacted the transportation network. South Central Railway cancelled a total of 120 trains on Monday and Tuesday. Air travel was also Notably affected, with all 32 flights from Visakhapatnam Airport cancelled, along with 16 from Vijayawada Airport and 4 from Tirupati Airport. These cancellations have left thousands of passengers stranded and facing considerable inconvenience. Authorities have urged travelers to check the status of their flights or trains before commencing their journeys.
Government and Relief Efforts
Both the central and state governments are closely monitoring the situation. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated to safer locations from coastal areas across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has set a 'zero casualty' target, and over two thousand shelters have been established across the state. More than 6,000 rescue personnel, including NDRF and SDRF teams, have been deployed. Beaches have been closed, and fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea.
Wider Regional Impact
Beyond Andhra Pradesh, Cyclone Montha's impact is also being felt in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, where winds are blowing at speeds of 80-90 kilometers per hour, accompanied by heavy rainfall. In Odisha, landslides and tree uprooting incidents have been reported in 15 districts, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam. Roads have been blocked in several places due to falling boulders. Tragically, one person has died and another was injured in Gajapati district.
Unexpected Reach: Rajasthan and Central India
Interestingly, the effects of Cyclone Montha are also being felt in central and western parts of the country. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rainfall has occurred in several areas of Rajasthan, with Bundi district recording the highest at 130 mm in the past 24 hours, while heavy rainfall is also expected in Udaipur, Kota, and surrounding districts, while light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are forecast for parts of Ajmer, Jaipur, Bharatpur, and Jodhpur divisions. The IMD has also predicted rain for the next three days in Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.
Origin of the Name 'Montha'
The name 'Montha' for this cyclonic storm was provided by Thailand. In the Thai language, 'Montha' translates to 'fragrant flower. ' However, contrary to its name, the storm has brought significant destruction and hardship to India's eastern coast. Authorities and rescue teams continue to monitor the situation closely, working to restore normalcy in the affected regions as swiftly as possible.
