Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha made landfall in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction. The cyclone’s fury resulted in the devastation of approximately 38,000 hectares of standing crops and 1.38 lakh hectares of horticultural produce in the state. The storm’s impact extended to neighboring Odisha, disrupting normal life in 15 districts. Landslides and heavy rainfall were reported, adding to the chaos.
In Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district, a tragic incident occurred when a woman lost her life after an uprooted palmyra tree fell on her due to high winds. Authorities have evacuated nearly 76,000 people to relief camps and established 219 medical camps. Over 865 tonnes of animal fodder have also been arranged to mitigate the impact on livestock. Vehicle movement was suspended in cyclone-affected districts like Krishna, Eluru, and Kakinada until Wednesday morning, with exemptions for emergency medical services.
The Indian Railways bore significant disruption, cancelling, diverting, and rescheduling numerous trains across the Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway Zone. The South Central Railway Zone reported a total of 120 train cancellations on Monday and Tuesday. Visakhapatnam Airport cancelled all 32 scheduled flights, while Vijayawada Airport managed to operate five flights after cancelling 16.
Odisha experienced heavy rains that triggered landslides in coastal and southern districts. Preliminary damage reports have emerged from Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur. Roads were blocked by falling boulders in Gajapati district, and further landslides were reported in Kashinagar block. Uprooted trees were a common sight in Rayagada district.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the preparedness measures, emphasizing a ‘Zero Casualty’ goal. Over 2,000 cyclone shelters have been made available. The state has deployed 153 rescue teams, comprising over 6,000 personnel from NDRF, ODRAF, and the Fire Service, to vulnerable areas to manage the ongoing crisis.