Andhra Pradesh is bracing for Cyclone Montha, with the state government implementing stringent measures to ensure public safety. A night curfew and a complete ban on vehicle movement have been declared across seven coastal districts as the severe cyclonic storm approaches. The cyclone, moving at approximately 15 kmph, is projected to bring intense winds of up to 110 kmph and heavy rainfall to coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and northern Tamil Nadu.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that the landfall process for Storm Montha has commenced and is expected to last for several hours. At 4:30 pm, the cyclone was positioned about 50 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam. To prevent any untoward incidents, authorities have prohibited all non-essential vehicular traffic in districts including Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and specific divisions of Alluri Sitarama Raju. This ban is active from the evening of October 28th to the early morning of October 29th.
A night curfew is also in effect, with exemptions only for critical emergency and medical services. Citizens are strongly advised to remain indoors, stay informed through official channels, and heed all safety advisories issued by the state’s Real Time Governance Society (RTGS). The IMD forecasts that Storm Montha, which intensified into a severe cyclonic storm earlier in the day, will make landfall near Kakinada later tonight. Disaster response teams, including 25 NDRF units, have been deployed across multiple states. Significant disruptions to transport are also reported, with numerous flight and train cancellations impacting travel to and from coastal Andhra Pradesh.
