Cyclone ‘Montha’ Batters Andhra Coast; Heavy Rains, Power Outages Reported

Amaravati, Oct 2025 : Severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ crossed the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coasts between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, making landfall close to Narsapur around midnight on Tuesday. The cyclone unleashed torrential rains and fierce winds, uprooting trees, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting power supply across several coastal districts.

According to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), the cyclone made landfall between 11.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m., with the rear sector entering the mainland in the early hours of Wednesday. By morning, ‘Montha’ had moved northwestwards at about 10 km per hour and weakened into a cyclonic storm, the APSDMA said in its 6:30 a.m. update.

“It is likely to continue moving northwestwards across coastal Andhra Pradesh, maintaining its intensity for the next six hours before weakening further into a deep depression,” the statement added.

The cyclone brought wind speeds touching 105 kmph during landfall, which later subsided to 85–95 kmph, still strong enough to cause widespread damage. Coastal areas experienced storm surges and tidal waves, particularly in Konaseema and Kakinada districts, where sea water inundated roads and low-lying villages.

Electricity supply was severely disrupted in Rajahmundry and several nearby areas as electric poles and transformers were damaged by falling trees. Konaseema, East Godavari, and Krishna districts faced flooding, while heavy rains pounded the coastal belt throughout Tuesday night.

Heavy Rains Lash Coastal Andhra

Several towns in coastal Andhra Pradesh recorded extremely heavy rainfall under the impact of the cyclone. Kavali reported the highest rainfall of 23 cm, followed by Ulavapadu (17 cm) and Chirala (15 cm). Low-lying areas in Ongole and other parts of Prakasam district were submerged, disrupting road connectivity.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for all coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for Wednesday, warning of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in several areas. The IMD also forecast rain in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka as the weakened system moves inland.

According to the forecast, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, and Nellore districts are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Moderate rainfall is also expected in Kakinada, Konaseema, East and West Godavari, Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, and YSR Kadapa districts.

CM Naidu Reviews Relief Efforts

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu monitored the situation from the Real-Time Governance Centre at the Secretariat until 11:30 p.m., reviewing live updates from district administrations. He directed officials to remain on round-the-clock alert and ensure the safety of residents in vulnerable areas.

Naidu also held a teleconference with district collectors, instructing ministers and local officials to visit cyclone-hit areas, interact with affected families, and launch immediate relief operations to boost public confidence.

Emphasising the urgent restoration of electricity, the Chief Minister instructed power utilities to repair damaged poles and substations on priority. He said that the state government has requested the Centre to send assessment teams to evaluate the overall damage, including crop and infrastructure losses.

As the state braces for continued rainfall and high winds, authorities have urged citizens to stay indoors, avoid coastal zones, and follow safety advisories until the situation stabilises.

“The above content was initially provided by an agency and has been slightly edited by Team Maverick for clarity and coherence.”