Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh | October 28, 2025 — A powerful Cyclone Montha made landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening, bringing torrential rainfall, destructive winds, and widespread damage across several coastal districts.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the severe cyclonic storm began its landfall around 7 p.m. and is expected to continue for several hours, causing intense rainfall and flooding across the coastal belt.
The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall alert for parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Odisha as Montha continues to move inland.
Cyclone Path and Intensity
Between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Cyclone Montha advanced at a speed of 17 km/h, positioning itself about 120 km east of Machilipatnam, 110 km south of Kakinada, and 220 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam by early evening.
The storm was also reported to be 460 km southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha, raising concerns of continued heavy rains in the adjoining regions.
Formed earlier on Tuesday morning, Cyclone Montha intensified rapidly, bringing very heavy rainfall across north and south coastal Andhra Pradesh. Within hours, the storm system expanded, lashing several coastal towns and farmlands.
Widespread Heavy Rainfall Across Andhra Pradesh
The IMD’s rainfall data revealed record-breaking precipitation in multiple districts:
- Ulavapadu (SPSR Nellore district) recorded the highest rainfall of 167 mm,
- Kavali received 162.75 mm,
- Dagadarthi measured 147.5 mm,
- Singarayakonda (Prakasam district) received 131.5 mm,
- Pakala and Ongole witnessed 122 mm and 100.5 mm respectively.
While Kakinada experienced only light showers until the landfall began, nearby regions including Tirupati, Konaseema, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, YSR Kadapa, and Bapatla reported light to heavy rain throughout the day.
The IMD withdrew its red alert for some districts on Wednesday (October 29), replacing them with orange alerts for Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Guntur, NTR, Krishna, and Nandyal, among others. The weather department urged residents to stay indoors and avoid low-lying flood-prone areas.
Agricultural Loss: 43,000 Hectares of Crops Destroyed
Initial assessments by the State Agriculture Department show extensive crop damage across 43,000 hectares, leaving more than 83,000 farmers affected.
Staple crops such as paddy and cotton suffered the worst blow, with entire fields submerged under water for hours. The continuous downpour over two days turned several fertile zones into temporary lakes, causing irreversible loss to the standing harvest.
Officials noted that it may take weeks to assess the full extent of agricultural and livestock damage, as many areas remain waterlogged or cut off due to collapsed roads.
Power Sector Suffers ₹2,200 Crore Loss
The power sector was among the hardest hit. Preliminary reports estimate losses exceeding ₹2,200 crore, following large-scale damage to substations, transformers, electric poles, and transmission lines.
Restoration efforts are currently underway, with state electricity board teams working round the clock to repair broken connections in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, and Nellore districts.
In Visakhapatnam, which received 147 mm rainfall on Monday (October 27), the municipal authorities cleared over 119 uprooted trees that blocked major roads and residential areas.
Mass Evacuation and Relief Efforts
The Kakinada district administration has set up 401 relief camps and successfully evacuated more than 35,000 people from vulnerable coastal zones.
Religious institutions, schools, and community halls are being used as temporary shelters to house displaced families.
“The number of evacuees may rise as 67 villages, five towns, and Kakinada city lie directly in the cyclone’s path,”
said Kakinada District Collector S. Shan Mohan, who also confirmed that 1,600 school buses have been deployed for emergency evacuation.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered the immediate deployment of NDRF and SDRF teams in and around Kakinada and nearby coastal districts.
He stressed the importance of emergency preparedness, functioning communication systems, and coordinated relief efforts to minimize loss of life and property.
Transport Disruptions: Flights and Trains Cancelled
As the heavy rainfall intensified, transportation networks across Andhra Pradesh came to a near halt.
The South Central Railway (SCR) cancelled 20 trains, including 10 originating from Visakhapatnam, and 11 services operating across other divisions.
One train from Bhubaneswar passing through Visakhapatnam was also cancelled due to high wind speeds and waterlogging on tracks.
Air services were equally affected.
The Visakhapatnam Airport cancelled 32 flights on Tuesday, with only one operational service — a nine-seater Vizag-Jeypore flight — completing its journey.
Airport Director N. Purushottam confirmed that the Vijayawada–Vizag–Vijayawada IndiGo flight for Wednesday (October 29) has been cancelled as a safety measure.
In Vijayawada, 16 flights were grounded, while four flights from Tirupati Airport were also cancelled due to strong winds and heavy rain. Flight operations are expected to resume gradually from Wednesday afternoon, subject to weather improvements.
Heavy Rainfall Alert: IMD’s Safety Advisory
The India Meteorological Department continues to maintain a heavy rainfall alert for the coastal and interior districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Residents have been advised to stay indoors, avoid travel to coastal zones, and refrain from crossing overflowing rivers or drains.
IMD officials have warned that gusty winds up to 90 km/h may persist along the coast, while moderate to heavy rain is likely to continue for another 24 hours in affected regions. Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea until the storm weakens completely.
Government Response and Next Steps
Disaster management teams, state police, and volunteers have been deployed across critical zones to provide food, water, and medical support.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is coordinating with district administrations to ensure uninterrupted relief and rescue operations.
Chief Minister Naidu held a high-level review meeting late Tuesday night, instructing officials to restore power and transport at the earliest and to assess crop and property damage for compensation.
“Our priority is to ensure safety and quick recovery for every affected family,”
said the Chief Minister. “We are monitoring the situation minute by minute.”
Also read: Relief Package of Rs 947 Crore Announced for Farmers Hit by Heavy Rains in Gujarat
Conclusion
As Cyclone Montha continues its destructive path through Andhra Pradesh, the situation remains critical with thousands displaced, farmlands flooded, and essential infrastructure damaged.
With the IMD maintaining a Heavy Rainfall Alert, authorities are on high alert to manage rescue and rehabilitation operations.
While skies are expected to clear gradually by Thursday, the state faces a long recovery process — from rebuilding roads and power lines to helping thousands of farmers get back on their feet after one of the most severe cyclones of 2025.
