Cyclone Montha made a fierce landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on the night of October 28, 2025, bringing wind speeds between 90-110 kilometers per hour. The severe cyclonic storm has left a trail of destruction across India’s eastern coastline, marking the first major post-monsoon weather system to strike the Indian mainland in 2025.
The catastrophic impact of Cyclone Montha has resulted in at least three confirmed deaths, with emergency response teams working tirelessly to assess the full extent of the damage. Moreover, the storm has displaced tens of thousands of residents and caused widespread agricultural devastation across multiple states.
Cyclone Montha Formation and Trajectory
Cyclone Montha developed from a low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 24, 2025, intensifying into a deep depression by October 26. Furthermore, meteorological conditions including warm sea surface temperatures exceeding 28 degrees Celsius and favorable atmospheric patterns enabled rapid intensification.
The India Meteorological Department tracked Cyclone Montha as it moved northwestward at approximately 15 kilometers per hour before making landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam. In addition, the cyclone’s eye wall passed directly over the Kakinada region, causing maximum destruction in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The name “Montha” was contributed by Thailand under the World Meteorological Organization’s regional cyclone naming system, meaning “fragrant flower” or “beautiful flower” in Thai. Consequently, this gentle name contrasts sharply with the storm’s devastating impact on eastern India.
Devastating Impact of Cyclone Montha Across Multiple States
The destruction wrought by Cyclone Montha extends far beyond Andhra Pradesh’s coastline. Standing crops across 38,000 hectares and horticulture plantations spanning 1.38 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh were destroyed. As a result, farmers face catastrophic losses during a critical agricultural season.
Cyclone Montha claimed two lives in the Godavari districts, while another person died in Konaseema when a palm tree collapsed. Meanwhile, emergency services continue searching for potential casualties in remote coastal villages.
Heavy rainfall triggered landslides in Odisha’s southern districts including Malkangiri, Koraput, and Rayagada, damaging homes and uprooting numerous trees. However, authorities report that proactive evacuation measures helped minimize casualties in these vulnerable areas.
The impact of Cyclone Montha extended to central India, causing the Tighra Dam gates in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh to be opened after 24 hours of continuous rainfall. Therefore, the cyclone’s influence reached far beyond coastal regions.
Massive Evacuation and Emergency Response to Cyclone Montha
Over 50,000 people were evacuated to relief camps across affected states, with Odisha implementing a zero-casualty target through proactive evacuation strategies. Furthermore, state governments established hundreds of cyclone shelters equipped with essential supplies.
In Kakinada district alone, authorities established over 800 relief centers while deploying 1,000 electricians and 140 swimmers with boats for emergency response. Additionally, pregnant women were transferred to hospitals as a precautionary measure.
The National Disaster Response Force deployed 26 specialized teams, with 12 stationed in Andhra Pradesh, six in Odisha, and three in northern Tamil Nadu. Consequently, coordinated efforts between central and state agencies enabled rapid response capabilities.
Transport infrastructure experienced significant disruption due to Cyclone Montha. South Central Railway cancelled 122 trains and rescheduled or diverted 160 services, primarily affecting the Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada route. Similarly, airlines cancelled 35 flights from Hyderabad to coastal cities.
Cyclone Montha Weather Warnings and Red Alerts
The India Meteorological Department issued red alerts for 13 coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh including Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, and Krishna. As a result, schools, colleges, and government offices remained closed across affected regions.
Storm surges raised water levels by 1-2 meters above astronomical tides near the Kakinada landfall zone. Moreover, coastal communities faced severe flooding as high waves battered the shoreline.
The IMD warned of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 21 centimeters in 24 hours across isolated coastal locations. Therefore, authorities issued fishing bans from October 26-30 to protect maritime communities from Cyclone Montha’s fury.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall affected coastal Andhra Pradesh from October 26-30, Tamil Nadu from October 27-28, and Telangana from October 27-30. In addition, West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, and Bihar experienced light to moderate rainfall with heavy downpours in isolated areas.
Infrastructure Damage and Economic Losses from Cyclone Montha
Strong winds toppled hundreds of trees and disrupted power supply across multiple districts, with three major trees falling on Manginapudi Beach road alone. Subsequently, restoration teams worked around the clock to clear debris and restore services.
Rough sea conditions eroded shorelines and damaged coastal properties in Podampeta village. Meanwhile, high tides continued battering coastal infrastructure as Cyclone Montha’s outer bands persisted.
The 1999 Odisha super cyclone, which killed nearly 10,000 people and caused crop damage worth Rs. 1,733 crores, remained a haunting memory as Cyclone Montha approached. Nevertheless, improved disaster preparedness and early warning systems significantly reduced casualties this time.
Government authorities kept 18,000 electricity poles on standby for immediate power restoration work across nine coastal districts. Thus, emergency infrastructure planning helped accelerate recovery operations.
Lessons from Cyclone Montha for Future Disaster Management
Cyclone Montha represents the first major land-falling cyclone of 2025 on the Indian mainland. Accordingly, this event tested the effectiveness of national disaster management frameworks and inter-agency coordination.
Odisha deployed large-scale precautionary measures including 1,400 cyclone shelters stocked with food supplies across eight high-risk districts. Additionally, lessons from historical disasters shaped comprehensive evacuation protocols.
The successful response to Cyclone Montha demonstrates significant improvements in early warning systems, community preparedness, and government coordination. However, the extensive agricultural damage and infrastructure losses highlight ongoing vulnerabilities in coastal regions.
Climate experts emphasize that increasing sea surface temperatures and changing atmospheric patterns may lead to more frequent and intense cyclonic systems like Cyclone Montha in the Bay of Bengal basin. Therefore, investments in resilient infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptation remain critical priorities.
Conclusion: Recovery Efforts Continue After Cyclone Montha
As Cyclone Montha weakened and moved inland, affected states began comprehensive damage assessment and recovery operations. The relatively low casualty count, despite the storm’s intensity, reflects improved disaster preparedness and effective evacuation strategies across India’s eastern coastline.
Nevertheless, tens of thousands of displaced residents require sustained support, while agricultural communities face months of recovery. The devastation caused by Cyclone Montha serves as a stark reminder of coastal vulnerability and the urgent need for climate-resilient development strategies.
External Links with Anchor Text Suggestions:
- India Meteorological Department– “official IMD cyclone tracking system”
- National Disaster Management Authority – “NDMA disaster preparedness guidelines”
- World Meteorological Organization – “WMO cyclone naming conventions”
- Ministry of Earth Sciences – “tropical cyclone research and monitoring”
- National Disaster Response Force – “NDRF emergency response operations”
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