Cyclone Montha storms Andhra Pradesh, cripples life in Odisha

Cyclonic storm Montha made landfall along the Andhra coast, battering coastal regions with winds up to 110 kmph. The cyclone disrupted transport, damaged crops across 38,000 hectares, and brought heavy rains to Odisha’s southern districts

Amaravati/Bhubaneswar: Severe cyclonic storm Montha on Tuesday crossed the coast off Andhra Pradesh, causing disruptions in the southern State, while the impact was also felt in neighbouring Odisha, where normal life was affected in 15 districts.

The landfall process started around 7 pm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that the weather system will cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada.

It will cross with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90 to 100 kmph and gusting up to 110 kmph.

Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm Montha, which means a fragrant flower in Thai, Nellore district in Andhra recorded the highest amount of rainfall on Tuesday.

A woman died at Makanagudem village in Konaseema district as an uprooted palmyra tree fell on her due to gales, a police official told PTI.

Due to the impact of the cyclone, standing crops in as many as 38,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh were destroyed and also horticulture crops in 1.38 lakh hectares.

Nearly 76,000 people were shifted to relief camps while the government arranged 219 medical camps at various places. It also arranged 865 tonnes of animal fodder keeping the cyclone in view.

The government has decided to suspend the movement of vehicles on roads in the cyclone-affected districts, including Krishna, Eluru and Kakinada from 8:30 pm tonight to 6 am on Wednesday. Emergency medical services will be exempted.

Indian Railways cancelled, diverted and rescheduled multiple coaching trains across the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway Zone on Tuesday. Similarly, the South Central Railway (SCR) Zone cancelled 120 trains in total on Monday and Tuesday, said an official.

All 32 flight operating out of Visakhapatnam Airport were cancelled on Tuesday owing to the severe cyclonic storm Montha.

Likewise, the Vijayawada Airport cancelled 16 flights, but managed to operate five flights.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said 3,778 villages were forecast to receive heavy rains.

Trees which collapsed due to Montha cyclone were cleared in several districts, along with sanitation work and efforts to ease rain water flow.

In Odisha, Montha brought heavy rain in coastal and southern districts, causing landslides and damaging houses besides uprooting trees, officials said.

The preliminary reports of damages were received from eight southern Odisha districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur.

Normal life, however, was affected in a total of 15 districts in the region.

A report from Anaka Gram Panchayat in Gajapati district said big boulders fell from nearby hills, blocking roads to five villages.

“The place was earlier identified as landslide-prone area. Therefore, arrangements have been made for early clearance of the blockade,” said Balakrushna Mallick, a local panchayat functionary.

Trees were uprooted in Gunupur, Gudari and Ramnaguda areas of Rayagada district.

A report from Mohana in Gajapati district said a mud-walled house collapsed due to incessant rains, injuring one person. The tin roof of a house in the area was blown away in strong winds, an official said.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the State’s preparation for the possible impact of the storm.

He said that over 2,000 cyclone shelters were set up to accommodate the affected people and the government has set the “Zero Casualty” goal.

The CM said 153 rescue teams (over 6,000 personnel) comprising personnel of NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Service are positioned at vulnerable places across the eight southern districts and responding to the situations.

The administration has already announced the closure of schools and anganwadi centres in nine districts till October 30. The leave of government employees has also been cancelled till October 30.

The administration has also sealed all beaches to prevent tourists and local people from entering the shores, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) D K Singh said.