Cyclone Montha: Andhra braces for landfall tonight; admin on high alert

Kakinada (AP): Cyclonic storm Montha in Bay of Bengal was on Monday headed towards Andhra Pradesh, where it's expected to cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam after making a landfall near Kakinada around midnight on Tuesday before moving towards southern Odisha.The season's first major storm, currently centred over west-central Bay of Bengal and moving north-northwestward, is expected to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" before making landfall with wind speeds of 90-100 kilometres per hour and gusts up to 110 kmph.Andhra Pradesh govt has put the districts of Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Eluru and East Godavari on high alert. CM N Chandrababu Naidu has asked officials to prevent any cyclone-related deaths.

Municipal administration minister P Narayana, who is the in-charge minister for Kakinada, is camping there to monitor the situation. Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manhor, the in-charge minister for Eluru, has also reached the town.Narayana, who held a review meeting at Kakinada collectorate on Monday, said 269 rehabilitation centres have been set up with all facilities, while 30 NDRF and 50 SDRF teams have been pressed into service.

Earthmovers, tractors and generators with enough fuel stocks have been kept ready."Nearly 140 pregnant women from nearby villages have been shifted to hospitals. Essential goods and medicines have been kept ready, and holidays have been declared for all educational institutions till Wednesday. All fishing boats have been recalled from the sea," the minister said.In Konaseema and West Godavari districts, around 140 rehabilitation centres have been set up along the coastline with stocks of food, milk, and medicines, besides medical staff.

Municipal authorities have been asked to removing hoardings, and cut and trim old trees in the city, and by the side of national highways and other roads. People have been advised to stay in their homes and not venture out till the storm passes by.

Several govt buildings have also been vacated and kept ready on standby to meet any eventualities. In Eluru, the district administration has readied 82 cyclone shelters. Around 130 minor irrigation water bodies have been identified as vulnerable and govt staff and expert swimmers have been posted there to keep a watch.

Most hoardings have been removed in the city, while essential items have been sent to 14 island villages in the district. Revenue and police personnel have been deployed near all causeways and culverts.While Andhra Pradesh will bear the brunt of the storm, with red and orange alerts issued for 23 districts, the south-coastal districts of neighbouring Odisha are likely to witness heavy rainfall and strong winds. The northern districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, are expected to receive heavy rains.