The severe cyclonic storm Montha made landfall in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday evening, bringing with it widespread devastation, particularly to agricultural lands. Standing crops spanning 38,000 hectares and horticulture crops across 1.38 lakh hectares in the state were destroyed. The cyclone’s impact was not confined to Andhra Pradesh, as neighboring Odisha experienced significant disruptions in 15 districts, including landslides caused by heavy rainfall.
A tragic fatality was reported in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district, where a woman died after a large palmyra tree was uprooted and fell on her. Authorities have responded swiftly by evacuating approximately 76,000 people to safety in relief camps and establishing 219 medical camps. Preparations also include ensuring the availability of 865 tonnes of animal fodder.
To manage the immediate aftermath, vehicle movement was suspended on several roads in Krishna, Eluru, and Kakinada districts. The Indian Railways significantly altered its schedule, canceling, diverting, and rescheduling multiple trains. The South Central Railway alone reported 120 train cancellations. Visakhapatnam Airport cancelled all 32 incoming and outgoing flights, while Vijayawada Airport also saw numerous cancellations.
In Odisha, heavy rains associated with Cyclone Montha caused landslides in several southern and coastal districts, leading to damaged houses and uprooted trees. Preliminary damage assessments are underway in districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, and Gajapati, where roads were blocked by fallen boulders. Rayagada district also reported considerable treefall.
Odisha’s Chief Minister has been actively monitoring the situation and reviewing relief efforts. The state has prepared over 2,000 cyclone shelters and deployed 153 rescue teams, comprising over 6,000 personnel, to vulnerable areas. The primary objective remains to ensure zero casualties and provide immediate aid to those affected by the cyclone.