Severe Cyclone Montha Nears India’s East Coast; Evacuations Underway

India’s eastern seaboard is bracing for the impact of Cyclone Montha, which has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is expected to become severe before making landfall. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange warning, with predictions of the cyclone crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, by evening or night. The storm’s trajectory indicates high sea waves of up to 4.7 meters along the Andhra Pradesh coast. In response, the Odisha government has declared a ‘red alert’ and commenced evacuations in eight southern districts. The state has bolstered its rescue capabilities with 140 teams from various disaster response agencies. Cyclone Montha, currently located over the Bay of Bengal, is moving northwest. Authorities are preparing for potential impacts on over 1,400 villages and several towns in Andhra Pradesh. National Disaster Response Force teams are deployed across multiple states likely to be affected. Coastal communities are being urged to move to safety, and fishermen have been warned against sailing. Tourist access to beaches has been restricted.