by: NavJeevan

Cyclone Montha lashes Andhra Pradesh: heavy rains, mass evacuations, telecom teams on high alert

R ARIVANANTHAM
AMARAVATI, OCT 29

The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Montha’, which made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on Tuesday night, unleashed torrential rains, strong winds, and heavy coastal flooding across Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha before gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm early Wednesday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Montha, which moved northwestwards at a speed of around 10 kmph, is expected to maintain its cyclonic intensity for six more hours, impacting interior Andhra Pradesh, south Odisha, south Chhattisgarh and Telangana. The department has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places in Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, with heavy to very heavy showers at isolated locations till Wednesday.

  • Over 76,000 evacuated as storm weakens into cyclonic category; rail, road, and air traffic affected across coastal Andhra and Odisha
  • DoT establishes 24×7 control room in Vijayawada to safeguard connectivity; indigenous cell broadcast system activated for early warning alerts
  • Relief and medical camps in full swing as IMD predicts continued rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha till Wednesday

Government Mobilises Relief and Rehabilitation Measures

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation through a teleconference with village and ward secretariat officials, directing the administration to ensure zero casualties and uninterrupted essential services.

Nearly 76,000 people have been evacuated from vulnerable low-lying areas and shifted to relief camps, while 219 medical camps have been set up to handle emergencies. The State Government has also arranged 865 tonnes of animal fodder to safeguard livestock in the cyclone-affected regions.

The East Coast Railway’s Waltair Division and South Central Railway (SCR) have cancelled, diverted or rescheduled over 120 trains in the past two days. Several highways and rural roads have been rendered impassable due to uprooted trees and flooding, affecting the movement of goods and emergency vehicles.

Telecom Networks Stay Functional Amid Storm

In a coordinated effort to maintain communication during the crisis, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has taken extensive preparedness measures to ensure network resilience in cyclone-hit areas.

A 24×7 control room has been set up at the DoT Andhra Pradesh LSA office in Vijayawada to monitor telecom operations, coordinate with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), and liaise with the State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA).

Under the SOP-2020 guidelines, DoT has ensured Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) and Cell Broadcast (CB) testing across all networks for communication continuity and early warning dissemination. The indigenous Cell Broadcast system, successfully tested with APSDMA, has already been deployed for emergency alerts.

Telecom companies have been instructed to maintain adequate fuel reserves, mobile power backups, and deploy ‘Cell-on-Wheels’ (CoW) units at critical locations to restore coverage swiftly in case of outages.

DoT officials said that continuous coordination meetings are being held with the State ITE&C Department and APSDMA to prioritize restoration of telecom infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted communication for first responders and citizens.

Outlook: Gradual Weakening, Continued Rainfall

The IMD has projected light to moderate rainfall with heavy spells in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Telangana on Thursday. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea as squally winds are expected to persist for the next 24 hours.

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha remain on high alert, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed for restoration and rescue operations in affected districts.

As the system weakens further inland, attention shifts to post-cyclone rehabilitation, infrastructure repair, and restoration of mobility and communication services, ensuring that normalcy returns swiftly to the battered coastal belt.