Outlook Planet Desk
Cyclone Montha formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal and is moving north-north-west towards the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) says landfall is likely between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, by the night of 28 October 2025.
Cyclone Montha is currently centred near latitude 14.7°N and longitude 83.1°E, about 190 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 270 km from Kakinada, 340 km from Visakhapatnam, and 550 km from Gopalpur in Odisha, moving steadily towards the north-northwest direction.
The (IMD) expects Montha to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada as a severe cyclonic storm, with sustained winds of 90–100 km/h and gusts up to 110 km/h. Coastal regions have been advised to prepare for strong winds and heavy rain.
As Cyclone Montha nears the eastern coast, The IMD has issued an orange alert for Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and South Odisha. It also placed Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Bihar on high alert for heavy rain between October 28–30.
The Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an extensive action plan for Cyclone Montha. Civil Supplies Minister N Manohar said it includes stock positioning of Public Distribution System (PDS) essentials, fuel management, paddy procurement, food for shelters, and post-cyclone relief distribution.
In view of passenger safety, the South Central Railway (SCR) has cancelled multiple trains on 28 and 29 October 2025. Affected routes include Vijayawada–Bhimavaram, Machilipatnam–Vijayawada, Rajahmundry–Visakhapatnam, Chennai Central–Visakhapatnam, and Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam, as Cyclone Montha approaches the Andhra coast.
The (SCR) General Manager has also placed all key departments including Operating, Engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, Commercial and Medical on high alert to ensure the safety of passengers, staff and railway property. Control rooms are working round the clock to monitor train movement, bridges and water levels.
Meanwhile, Several IndiGo and Air India Express flights were cancelled as Cyclone Montha disrupted operations. A Delhi–Visakhapatnam IndiGo flight was diverted to Bhubaneswar, while Vijayawada Airport suspended flights and East Coast Railway diverted trains in the Waltair region as a precaution.
Satya Prakash, Additional General Manager of South Central Railway, chaired a meeting with key officials to review Cyclone Montha readiness. A war room has been set up for real-time monitoring at zonal and divisional levels to ensure coordinated disaster response and quick communication.
Patrolling teams are also monitoring tracks, bridges, and vital infrastructure, while monsoon reserves and rescue teams are on standby. Diesel locomotives, food, and water supplies have been readied, with medical teams and ambulances positioned for emergency support and uninterrupted services.