27 October,2025 04:06 PM IST | Amaravati | mid-day online correspondent
PM Narendra Modi and CM Chandrababu Naidu (left). File pic
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday directed officials to implement precautionary measures in areas that are likely to experience rains and floods due to Cyclone Montha, which is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with CM Naidu over the phone to enquire about the cyclone situation. Following this, IT Minister Nara Lokesh was instructed to coordinate with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), news agency PTI reported.
According to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), "The CS 'Montha' at 1130 hrs IST of 27 Oct, near lat 12.8N & long 84.6E, about 480 km east of Chennai and 530 km SSE of Kakinada, is likely to intensify into a SCS and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening/night of 28th October as a SCS."
The CM held a review meeting with officials at the Real Time Governance System (RTGS) to assess preparedness, reported PTI, quoting a press release from his office.
"The CM ordered advance action in places where rains and floods are likely. He told officials to strengthen canal banks to prevent crop loss," an official release stated.
Naidu also instructed officials to monitor the cyclone's movement on an hourly basis, PTI reported.
Under the cyclone's influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the Krishna District for two days starting Monday, the release added. Heavy rains are also likely in Guntur, Bapatla, NTR, Palnadu, and West Godavari districts.
The weather system is forecast to move towards north-northwest and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on Tuesday evening or night as a severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 110 kmph.
Meanwhile, the government has deployed one state disaster response force (SDRF) team each in NTR, Tirupati, Prakasam, Konaseema, Anakapalli, Rajahmundry, Bapatla, Annamayya, and Eluru districts. Three reserve SDRF teams are on standby at their headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Tirupati districts.
Eight National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have also been stationed across various districts, with five more kept on standby.
To support relief operations, district collectors have been authorised to withdraw Rs 19 crore for rescue and relief efforts.
"However, severely impacted districts may draw an additional amount as per requirement, even beyond the indicated amount under intimation to the government," stated G Sai Prasad, special chief secretary (disaster management), in a government order.
He directed district collectors to prioritise evacuating residents from flooded areas to relief camps and ensuring the supply of drinking water, food, and milk. Prasad also directed them to arrange health check-ups at camps, maintain sanitation, and carry out urgent repairs to roads and irrigation infrastructure.
If cyclone shelters are insufficient, collectors have been asked to use government schools and colleges as relief camps to accommodate affected residents.
(With PTI inputs)
