Cyclone Montha to Hit Andhra Pradesh, Odisha; Landfall Expected Tonight

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on Monday. With the system maintaining its intensity, both states have been placed on high alert as landfall is expected tonight near Kakinada.

As of Monday morning, Cyclone Montha was centered about 340 km south of Visakhapatnam and 190 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, the IMD reported.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the people of Andhra Pradesh that the central government would extend all possible assistance as the region braces for flooding and widespread disruption.

Air travel has also been affected, with six flights between Visakhapatnam and Chennai cancelled due to poor weather conditions. IndiGo, in a post on its official X handle, advised passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport, citing “prevailing cyclone conditions and heavy rainfall around Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Rajahmundry.”

Train services have also been disrupted. The Railways have cancelled and short-terminated several trains: the Howrah–Jagdalpur Samaleswari Express will now terminate at Rayagada, while the Hirakhand Express and Intercity Express will operate only between Rayagada and Bhubaneswar or Rourkela, skipping the Jagdalpur stretch.