Parts of coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha were put on alert on Monday after witnessing light to heavy rain coupled with high-speed winds due to the approaching Cyclone Montha, which, officials said, was intensifying 570 km from Kakinada, 600 km from Visakhapatnam, and 520 km from Chennai.
Moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 18kmph over the southwest-central Bay of Bengal, the cyclone is likely to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh near Kakinada by Tuesday night with a wind speed of 90-110 kmph, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority said. Respective administrations have evacuated people from the coastal villages across the three states and moved them to make-shift camps.
In Kakinada, which will bear the brunt of the cyclone as it is expected to make landfall there, the district collectorate has opened 260 relief centres, while 140 relief camps have been set up in Nellore. All the camps are stocked with rations and food for the next 2-3 days. All beaches have been closed and fishermen have been strictly warned not to venture into the sea. Andhra’s Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P Narayana, who has been put in-charge of Kakinada district to oversee preparedness, relief, and rescue efforts, held a review meeting at the district collectorate on Monday.
In Odisha, around 32,000 people from vulnerable areas will be shifted to around 1,500 shelters in eight districts likely to receive extremely heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Administrations in eight districts — Malakangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi and Kandhamal —have been put on “high alert” to tackle the situation. Schools and Anganwadi Centres in these eight districts will remain closed till October 30.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has cancelled at least 32 trains passing on the cyclone-affected areas on Tuesday and diverted three trains.
Odisha Special Relief Commissioner D K Singh said the state government is also in touch with the Coast Guard authorities to use their helicopters in case there is a need to evacuate people.
Speaking to reporters on the preparations being undertaken by the Tamil Nadu government, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin said as the cyclone is expected to cross the coast tomorrow, it will not cause major damage in Tamil Nadu. “The meteorological department has informed us that there will not be very heavy rain for the next 10 days. But even if it rains heavily, our government is prepared to face it,” said Udhayanidhi. (With PTI inputs)
