Visakhapatnam: As midnight looms, Andhra Pradesh braces for the fury of Cyclone Montha, which has already slammed into the coast between Kakinada and Machilipatnam, unleashing gale-force winds and torrential rains across the eastern seaboard.
The storm, packing winds of 90-100 kmph, has crept forward at 17 kmph over the past six hours. Its eye now hovers just 20 km from Machilipatnam, 110 km from Kakinada, and 220 km from Visakhapatnam. Officials warn it could take another 3-4 hours to fully cross the shore near Kakinada, triggering high alert across seven districts. “Stay indoors; your safety is paramount,” urged Prakhar Jain, MD of the Disaster Management Agency, as heavy downpours lash coastal belts, sparking landslides in parts of Visakhapatnam.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is hunkering down at the State Secretariat, orchestrating real-time oversight via RTGS to accelerate relief. In a teleconference with ministers, collectors, and SPs, he stressed zero tolerance for loss of life: “Focus on prevention, relief, rehabilitation, and damage assessment.” Over 3,778 villages face severe rain alerts, with 3,174 relief camps primed in 22 districts.
The onslaught has crippled transport: South Central Railway axed 54 trains in Vijayawada division, firing off SMS warnings to passengers. A night curfew clamps down from 8:30 pm on Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday in Krishna, Eluru, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and Alluri Sitarama Raju districts — halting all vehicles on national highways save emergency medical services.
As Montha’s roar echoes, Andhra’s resilient spirit stands firm against the tempest’s wrath. Will the dawn bring respite?