Amaravati, October 25, 2025
With Cyclone Montha gathering strength over the Bay of Bengal and poised to slam into Andhra Pradesh's coastline, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu convened an emergency teleconference on Saturday, directing district collectors, superintendents of police, and senior officials across the state to ramp up preparations and prioritize evacuations from vulnerable areas. The IMD's red alert forecasts severe impacts from October 26 to 29, including torrential rains up to 100 mm and gale-force winds gusting to 110 kmph, prompting a full-scale mobilization to safeguard lives and infrastructure.
The weather system, currently a low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify rapidly: evolving into a depression by late October 25, a deep depression on October 26, and a cyclonic storm named Montha by October 27 morning. By October 28, it could escalate into a severe cyclonic storm, making landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada during the evening or night, with its sphere of influence stretching from Srikakulam in the north to Tirupati in the south. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall ranging from 80 to 100 mm is anticipated, accompanied by gales up to 110 kmph—this is a red alert situation, and officials must remain vigilant to avert any loss of life or property," Naidu emphasized during the high-level meet, underscoring the cyclone's potential to disrupt daily life across coastal and inland districts.
Naidu's directives were comprehensive and action-oriented. He ordered immediate alerts to coastal residents, mandating evacuations to safer locations in low-lying and flood-prone zones, with special emphasis on appointing in-charge officers for high-risk districts to oversee operations. Educational institutions may face holidays if conditions worsen, while NDRF and SDRF teams have been placed on standby for rapid deployment. Key departments—Roads and Buildings, Energy, Irrigation, Municipal Administration, and Panchayat Raj—were tasked with ensuring uninterrupted services: continuous monitoring and scientific release from reservoirs to prevent flash floods, round-the-clock power and water supply, mobile tower functionality, and stockpiling of civil supplies like food and essentials.
The Chief Minister also called for seamless inter-departmental coordination and proactive rain-loss mitigation, drawing lessons from recent heavy downpours that claimed lives in north Andhra earlier this month. "Prepare action plans to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions—every district must be ready," Naidu instructed, highlighting the need for real-time updates and community outreach via local alerts. Officials reported that control rooms are operational 24/7, with fishing communities already warned to secure vessels and stay ashore.
The cyclone's ripple effects extend beyond Andhra Pradesh, with IMD issuing alerts for heavy rains in neighboring Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Odisha from October 25 to 29, though the epicenter remains the Andhra coast. In Kakinada and surrounding areas, preliminary evacuations have begun, with relief camps being stocked and roads inspected for vulnerabilities. Disaster management experts praised the swift response, noting that early interventions could significantly reduce the toll, as seen in past cyclones like Hudhud in 2014.
As dark clouds gather over the horizon, Andhra Pradesh's resolve is clear: a united front against nature's fury. Naidu, wrapping up the conference, reiterated his administration's zero-tolerance for complacency. "This is our state, our people—we will protect them at all costs." With the storm's path still under close watch, residents are urged to heed warnings and stay indoors as Montha approaches.
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