Visakhapatnam: As Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) Montha approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast, more than 35 flights between Shamshabad in Telangana and the cities of Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Rajahmundry have been cancelled, airport authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
According to GMR Airports, the cancellations include 30 IndiGo flights, two Air India, and five Air India Express services. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Cyclone Montha will make landfall near Kakinada on Tuesday evening or night, with wind speeds of 90–100 kmph gusting up to 110 kmph.
“The SCS Montha moved north-northwestwards and at 1430 hrs IST of October 28, it was positioned about 70 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 150 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 250 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, and 480 km south-southwest of Gopalpur,” the IMD stated on X.
With 39 constituencies expected to receive heavy rainfall, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has instructed ministers, MPs, and MLAs to extend full support to affected communities. Districts likely to experience intense downpours include Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, and Nellore.
In Kothapatnam village, officials urged residents to vacate their homes as a precaution. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Uppada, where operations to move people to safer areas are underway.
NDRF Inspector Biswas said, “Our team has been stationed here for 24 hours. We are conducting awareness campaigns in vulnerable areas. The cyclone is expected to hit this evening. People should not panic and must cooperate by moving to designated shelters.”
Authorities have also closed the beach road connecting Kakinada and Uppada after an 8-kilometre stretch was damaged earlier in the day to prevent accidents.
In neighbouring Odisha, 50 fishing boats from Andhra Pradesh have been stranded at the Gopalpur port in Ganjam district. BJP MLA Krushna Chandra Nayak confirmed that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has instructed the district administration to remain on high alert and ensure all precautionary measures are in place.
Tamil Nadu, too, is bracing for moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning in districts such as Thoothukudi, with fishermen advised to stay ashore for the fourth consecutive day.
