Cyclone Montha: The Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal government have sounded alerts across the state, especially in coastal districts as deep depression forms in Bay of Bengal, and Cyclone ‘Montha’ is set to intensify and bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts across these states.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on October 28 evening.
To ensure proper safety, the India Army has also been put on high alert in view of the developing cyclonic systems over both the East Central Arabian Sea and the South East Bay of Bengal. The storm is expected to intensify over the next 48 hours into Cyclone ‘Montha’.
The Army said it is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and respective state governments, reported ANI.
Meanwhile, alerts have also been sounded in Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh.
Andhra govt prepares relief, essential supplies
In view of the storm the Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an action plan for relief and essential supplies in pre-cyclone preparedness for Cyclone Montha. The cyclone is likely to cross the state between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada.
From here, the storm is likely to move northwestwards, then north-northwestwards, intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm by morning of October 28, and cross Andhra Pradesh coast in evening. The wind speed during this time is expected to reach 100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph along the coast, with very heavy rainfall in some districts, the Met department said, quoted PTI.
“The Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an action taken report detailing the pre-cyclone preparedness measures for Cyclone Montha, ensuring readiness before landfall,” State Civil Supplies Minister N Manohar said.
The supply of food grains to all fair price shops in coastal areas shall be completed by October 26 and sufficient stock is already placed at Mandal Level Stock Points, he added, quoted the news agency. Manohar has also instructed the state nodal officer and oil marketing companies to fully stock petrol, diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) outlets in vulnerable districts.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has alerted people of heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh on October 27.
Odisha puts all districts on alert
The Odisha government on Sunday put all 30 districts on alert as the depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression and is slowly moving towards the east coast, officials said. They added the state will likely see very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 28 and 29. A red alert has been sounded by the IMD for five Odisha districts – Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam.
Orange and yellow alerts have also been issued for several other districts. Officials are using loudspeakers and megaphones to alert fishermen who ventured into the sea, urging them to return immediately. Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari said men and machinery have been kept ready for rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, seven districts in the southern and coastal areas have cancelled the leave of government employees.
Bengal alerts residents for impact on four days
A similar situation is occurring in West Bengal as well where several districts are expected to experience heavy rain from October 28-31, the IMD said on Sunday. The weather system will start bringing light to moderate rain in some south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Hooghly, from October 27, the IMD said in a bulletin.
Heavy rain will occur at one or two places in the south Bengal districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Purulia, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad between October 28 and October 31, it said. Heavy rainfall is also likely in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Uttar Dinajpur and Malda between October 30 and October 31.
