Cyclone Montha has hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening. Winds are blowing at the speed of 110 kmph and sea waves are rising up to 5 meters (16 feet) high.
The cyclone, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, intensified into a storm on Tuesday morning
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), landfall process of cyclone Montha commenced on Tuesday evening. This will continue for next 3-4 hours.
The Chief Minister's Office said that standing crops on 38,000 hectares and horticultural crops on 1.38 lakh hectares were destroyed in Andhra Pradesh due to the impact of the severe cyclonic storm 'Montha'.
A press release issued by the Chief Minister's Office, citing preliminary estimates, said, "Due to the impact of the cyclone, heavy rains across the state destroyed standing crops on 38,000 hectares and horticultural crops on 1.38 lakh hectares."
Its impact is being felt in districts across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, and Odisha. Strong winds are blowing in these states, uprooting trees in many places, and high waves are rising on the beaches. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas in all four coastal states.
120 trains, 16 flights cancelled
A total of 120 trains of the South Central Railway zone have been cancelled on Monday-Tuesday. In addition, all 32 flights from Visakhapatnam Airport have been cancelled. Similarly, 16 flights from Vijayawada Airport and four flights from Tirupati Airport have been cancelled.
In Kerala, heavy rain and flooding in low-lying areas have led to two deaths. The Odisha government has evacuated coastal residents to safer zones and deployed 128 rescue teams across eight districts, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.\
Relief centers have been set up with food, medicines, lighting, and livestock arrangements. Schools and Anganwadi centers in these areas will remain closed until October 30.