Wed Oct 29 01:10:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
Cyclone ‘Montha’ Weakens After Landfall, Leaves Trail of Disruption in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
New Delhi: Cyclone ‘Montha’, named after a fragrant flower in Thai, has crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast and moved towards Odisha, impacting life in 15 districts. While the storm is weakening, it has already caused significant disruption and tragedy.
Sadly, one woman in the Konaseema district lost her life when a tree fell on her home. Two others were injured by falling coconut trees. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the landfall process began around 7 PM, with the weather system crossing the coast near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam.
The cyclone’s impact has been most severely felt in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district and areas of Kakinada, Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Chinturu, and Rampachodavaram in Andhra Pradesh. The state government had suspended all vehicle movement in seven districts from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning as a precautionary measure.
Across Andhra Pradesh, 403 ‘mandals’ (administrative divisions) in 22 districts are expected to be affected. The IMD has warned of potential damage to standing paddy and vegetable crops in low-lying areas, advising farmers to drain excess water from their fields.
Authorities have taken several steps to mitigate the storm’s impact, including deploying 81 wireless towers, 21 large lamps to ensure emergency communication, 1,447 earthmovers, 321 drones, and 1,040 chainsaws for clearing fallen trees. Over 36 million alert messages were sent to residents across the state.
Significant rainfall was recorded, with Ulvapadu in the Nellore district receiving the highest amount at 12.6 cm. Nellore has been identified as the district with the most rainfall from the cyclone so far.
The practice of naming cyclones began in 2004 to improve understanding and awareness of these weather events. This year’s cyclone was named by Thailand. Authorities remain on alert and are taking necessary measures to assist affected populations.
First Piper 