Nellore, Andhra Pradesh:
Heavy rain and gusty winds pounded Nellore and surrounding regions on Tuesday as Cyclone Montha moved closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the cyclone will make landfall later in the day between Kavali and Kalingapatnam, bringing intense rainfall, high tides, and strong winds to several coastal districts.
Early morning showers led to widespread waterlogging in parts of Nellore city, including Magunta Layout, Balaji Nagar, and Vedayapalem. Motorists faced severe inconvenience as several roads were submerged, disrupting traffic movement across the city. Municipal authorities have deployed emergency teams to drain accumulated water and restore normalcy in affected areas.
According to IMD officials, Cyclone Montha intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal, moving northwestwards toward the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. The department has issued red alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Nellore, Prakasam, and Bapatla districts, urging residents to remain indoors and avoid travel unless necessary.
Nellore District Collector M. Harinarayanan held an emergency meeting with officials from revenue, police, and disaster management departments to review preparedness. Fishermen have been strictly warned not to venture into the sea, and coastal villages have been asked to stay alert for potential storm surges. “We have positioned disaster response teams in vulnerable mandals. All necessary arrangements for relief and evacuation are in place,” the Collector said.
Power supply disruptions were reported in several parts of the district due to uprooted trees and damage to electricity poles. The Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company (APSPDCL) has dispatched repair crews to restore electricity on priority. Meanwhile, the Nellore Municipal Corporation opened a control room to receive public complaints and coordinate field operations.
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response Force (APSDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in at-risk areas. Relief materials, including food packets, drinking water, and emergency kits, have been pre-positioned in cyclone shelters. Authorities have also identified schools and community halls as temporary shelters for evacuees from low-lying villages.
Meteorologists cautioned that the cyclone could bring rainfall exceeding 200 mm in some pockets, potentially leading to flash floods. Farmers in coastal mandals have been advised to secure their harvested crops and protect livestock. The sea condition is expected to remain very rough, with waves rising up to 4–6 meters near the coast.
Public transport services have been partially disrupted as buses on select coastal routes were cancelled. Train services through the Chennai–Howrah line may also face delays depending on the intensity of the storm.
The IMD said that Cyclone Montha is expected to weaken gradually after landfall, but heavy rainfall may persist over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha for the next 24 hours. The state government has urged citizens to follow official advisories and rely only on verified updates from government sources.
