Cyclone Montha continues to wreak havoc in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with incessant rainfall, flooding, and extensive damage. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), while red alerting three districts in Telangana — Warangal, Mahabubabad, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri — seems to portray increasing intensity of the impact of the storm.
🌧️ 2 Dead in Andhra Pradesh; CM Naidu goes for an Aerial Survey
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu confirmed two deaths caused by the severe wind and rain from Cyclone Montha. He credited officials for their quick response that managed to save many other lives. The relief and rehabilitation work is now in full swing, with the Chief Minister also instructing that all related operations continue for the next 48 hours in order to aid families suffering due to the devastation.
According to IMD, Cyclone Montha made landfall near Kakinada at around 7 PM on Tuesday, striking between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam. Winds brought by the cyclone were recorded at 110 kmph, and these winds uprooted trees, damaged houses, and caused widespread power failures in the coastal districts of East Godavari, Srikakulam, and Visakhapatnam.
⚠️ Red Alert for Telangana
The cyclone’s remnants led to very heavy rainfall over Telangana. Apart from the three districts under red alert, heavy showers were recorded in Jangaon, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Siddipet, and Nagarkurnool.
An emergency meeting was convened by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy with officials of disaster management to keep track of the situation. There was massive waterlogging and traffic mayhem in Hyderabad, especially in the low-lying areas. Several localities also witnessed drainage overflow along with power cut.
🌊 Widened Impact Across Southern India
The IMD issued between warnings for heavy showers over the next 24 hours in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Strong winds and rains disrupted life in Odisha in 15 districts.
The sea was seen rough along Coastal Andhra; Visakhapatnam is having high tides, and there have been reports of storm damage to fishing villages. Disaster response teams have been deployed, and temporary shelters have been set up for affected families.
After an aerial survey, CM Naidu gave assurances about speeding up relief and medical aid.
“If we keep this up for two more days, we can really make a difference in the lives of those who have suffered,” said Naidu.
🚨 What Lies Ahead
The IMD forecasts that the cyclone will weaken gradually while making an inland movement. Heavy rainfall will, however, continue across parts of Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh over the next 24 hours. Authorities have urged the residents to stay indoors and avoid moving to flood-prone areas until conditions improve.
