Cyclone Montha Live: Andhra, Odisha On Alert As Landfall Begins; Flights And Trains Cancelled, Schools Closed In Chennai

As Cyclone Montha intensified after landfall, authorities have relocated nearly 50,000 people to relief camps, according to government data cited by Reuters. Officials estimate that around 3.9 million residents in low-lying regions of Andhra Pradesh could be impacted, with disaster management teams carrying out large-scale evacuations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that Cyclone Montha is expected to cause heavy rainfall across several districts of West Bengal between Tuesday and Friday. In its special bulletin, the IMD stated that the system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night.

According to a Times Of India report, rough sea conditions were observed at Chennai’s Marina Beach on Monday due to the impact of Cyclonic Storm Montha forming over the Bay of Bengal.

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) on Monday confirmed that the landfall of Cyclone Montha had started along the state’s coastline. The storm is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm soon.

“Cyclone has begun. Coastal districts are witnessing rainfall accompanied by gales,” APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain told news agency PTI.

Rayagada District Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni said the administration has taken extensive precautionary measures in anticipation of heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Montha, which is set to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Although Rayagada is not directly in the cyclone’s path, the district is under a red alert for October 28 and 29 due to expected heavy rains. Kulkarni said all departments are on high alert and necessary preparations are in place.

He stated, “A cyclone is about to hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh. While Rayagada is not directly in the cyclone's path, as a neighbouring area, we have rainfall red alerts for the 28th and 29th. Accordingly, all the district authorities are prepared. The district has launched a basic preparation module for all district-level officers. In every block, have JCBs and other machines ready, as landslides and rainfall are the main threats during cyclone season... TPS is ready in case of a power snap... Other line departments, such as education and other offices, have been kept on alert since the declaration that schools and offices would be closed... Women who are about to give birth in the next seven days have been evacuated; the process is already underway. We have also identified certain vulnerable habitations where, if conditions deteriorate, these areas will need to be evacuated. Therefore, they have been listed and tagged to specific temporary shelters...”

Amid warnings of Cyclone Montha and heavy rainfall, Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Zagade has announced a holiday for all schools on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

As of 5:30 pm on Monday, Cyclone Montha was positioned over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, roughly 420 km east of Chennai and 450 km south-southeast of Kakinada. The system, moving north-northwest at a speed of about 15 kmph, is forecast to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning.

Speaking about Cyclone Montha, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi said, “Cyclone Montha is developing over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall near Kakinada on the Andhra Pradesh coast. It will not directly impact Odisha, but a few districts in the state are likely to experience its effects. Although there is little chance of major damage, all precautionary measures are being taken. I am on my way to Odisha and have convened an emergency meeting tomorrow morning to review the situation. A final assessment will be carried out during that meeting.”

The weather department has forecast light to moderate rainfall across several parts of north Tamil Nadu, with occasional showers expected in south Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the Karaikal region. A few areas may also experience thunderstorms and lightning.

According to the alert, heavy to very heavy rain is expected at isolated locations in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Kancheepuram, while Villupuram, Chengalpattu, and Puducherry are also likely to receive heavy rainfall in the coming hours.

In view of the imminent Cyclone ‘Montha’ and in the interest of passenger safety, a few trains are cancelled.

Source: South Central Railway CPRO pic.twitter.com/84b9BWxY80, — ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2025

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured central support to help the state tackle Cyclone Montha, which is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning.

Naidu stated that the Prime Minister had called him earlier in the day to review the cyclone’s impact and the precautionary measures being implemented across the state.

With Cyclone Montha nearing the Andhra Pradesh coast, authorities have cancelled 43 train services passing through Visakhapatnam on October 28. As a safety precaution, all IndiGo and Air India Express flights scheduled from Vizag airport have also been suspended until further notice.

Authorities in several coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru and West Godavari, have ramped up emergency measures as Cyclone Montha approaches. Precautionary steps include mass evacuations from low-lying areas, closure of schools and restrictions on fishing activities.

In Kakinada, officials have begun relocating residents from Hope Island to safer shelters ahead of the expected landfall. All educational institutions in the region will remain closed from October 27 to 31, as weather agencies warn of heavy rain and strong winds in the coming days.