Cyclone Montha, which is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Monday, is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast in the evening or night of October 28, with winds of 90 to 100 kmph. As the cyclone approaches, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain warning for states like Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry for the next few days.
The weather system has intensified into a deep depression over the southeastern Bay of Bengal in the past six hours. The storm is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Monday morning (October 27) and into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28 (Tuesday).
Cyclone Montha is expected to make landfall on Tuesday evening or night on the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, packing winds of 90-100 kmph with gusts up to 110 kmph.
All NDRF and SDRF teams have been kept on standby and additional teams are ready for deployment during critical situations. The IMD has asked fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the coast of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry (Yanam) and Odisha from October 26 to 29.
As of 5:30 am today, the weather system is located about 610 km west of Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), 790 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 850 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 840 km south-east of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and 950 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha).
ANDHRA PRADESH ON WARNING
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alerted all district collectors, superintendents of police and other senior officials about the cyclone and held a teleconference with them. Noting that the cyclone’s sphere of influence could extend from Srikakulam to Tirupati, Naidu said heavy rains up to 100 mm could hit the state accompanied by gales up to 110 km per hour.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alerted all district collectors, superintendents of police and other senior officials about the cyclone and held a teleconference with them. Noting that the cyclone’s sphere of influence could extend from Srikakulam to Tirupati, Naidu said heavy rains up to 100 mm could hit the state accompanied by gales up to 110 km per hour.
Naidu directed officials to make preparations to prevent loss of life and property. He instructed them to warn coastal residents to evacuate to safer locations and declare holidays for educational institutions if necessary.
Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister N Manohar said the action plan covers stock positioning of raw materials from Public Distribution System (PDS), fuel inventory management, steps for procurement of rice, food supply to shelters and distribution of post-cyclone relief.
On fuel preparation, Manohar directed the state officer and oil marketing companies to fully supply petrol, diesel and LPG outlets in vulnerable districts. The IMD predicts rain in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from October 26 to 29.
ODISHA DELIVERS ACTION PLAN, RED ALERT IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS
The Odisha government on Saturday said it has activated its disaster preparedness model in view of the impending cyclone that is likely to cross the neighboring Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28.
Red alert and above has been issued for Ganjam districts. The Korda, Kandal, Kalahani and BarRITen in October
Similarly, the Imd issued a red alert for Rayagada, Kalahandi, Bingpur, Koraput and Malkangri districts and an orange alert for Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Boudh, Bodir and Nupada districts for October 29.
Nine other districts have been identified under a yellow alert area where rainfall of 7cm to 11cm is likely. The IMD also said that showery weather with wind speeds of up to 55 kilometers per hour is likely to prevail along and off the southern coast of Odisha from Sunday evening.
Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari discussed the cyclone situation at a high-level meeting with district collectors and directed them to remain prepared for any eventuality. He also said there were sufficient emergency materials, medicines and other essential supplies available for emergencies.
Pujari also said that around 15 districts in coastal and southern regions of Odisha are likely to be affected by the changed weather conditions. “Though the IMD has predicted that the cyclone will cross the Andhra coast, we are keeping all equipment ready if the cyclone changes direction. All necessary measures have been taken based on past experience,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan on Saturday reviewed preparedness for the approaching cyclone and said the aim should be to ensure that no loss of life and damage to property and infrastructure is kept to a minimum.
He said the governments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Odisha have been informed about evacuation plans, shelters and activation of district control rooms.
WEST BENGAL IS ALSO LIKELY TO SEE RAIN
In West Bengal, light rainfall and showers are likely to occur in isolated parts of South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Purba and Paschim Midnapore districts from Monday as the deep depression over the southeastern Bay of Bengal moves westward, a spokesperson of the IMD’s eastern headquarters said on Saturday.
On October 29, thundershowers with gusty winds (30-40 km per hour) and lightning are likely to occur at one or two places over North and South districts of 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Jhargram, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, as well as Kolkata and Howrah, he added.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are very likely to occur at many places in all districts of South Bengal, with heavy rain (07-11 cm) likely to hit one or two places in North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Jhargram, Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts on the day, he said.
On October 30, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places over all districts of South Bengal, with one or two places of heavy rainfall (07-11 cm) likely to occur over Birbhum, Murshidabad and Paschim Bardhaman districts of South Bengal.
“On October 31 too, thundershowers with gusty winds (30-40 kmph) and lightning are likely to strike at one or two places in all districts of south Bengal, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers very likely to occur at many places in all districts,” the weatherman said.
– Ends
(with inputs from PTI)
#Cyclone #Montha #hit #Andhra #October #rain #warning #Odisha #Tamil #Nadu