Cyclone Montha Aftermath: 3 Dead in Andhra, Rains to Batter Bengal & Bihar Next. Your Authoritative Safety Guide

The immediate danger has passed, but the crisis is far from over.

After lashing the Andhra Pradesh coast, “Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha” made landfall near Kakinada and Narsapur around midnight (Oct 28-29) with devastating force, bringing winds gusting up to 110 kmph and torrential, non-stop rain.

As of this morning (October 30), the storm has weakened into a Cyclonic Storm and is moving northwest across Telangana. However, its impact is now triggering a new, widespread weather emergency. The system’s “tail” and outer bands are massive, pulling moisture from the Bay of Bengal and setting the stage for three days of intense rainfall across Eastern and Northeastern India.

Tragically, three deaths have already been confirmed in Andhra Pradesh, including a woman in Konaseema district who was killed when a tree fell on her. The state has reported catastrophic damage to crops, with preliminary estimates showing over 1.76 lakh hectares destroyed.

As a trusted source for weather and disaster reporting, our team has compiled this 1000-word authoritative guide on the cyclone’s impact, its new path, and the official safety advisories you must follow.

1. The ‘Experience’: Devastation in Andhra Pradesh

The landfall was a terrifying experience for residents in Andhra’s coastal districts. Here is a verified summary of the impact so far:

• Human Cost: Three fatalities have been confirmed. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas. Nearly 76,000 people were successfully evacuated to 219 cyclone shelters, a move that authorities say “minimized” the loss of life.
• Agricultural Ruin: This is the biggest financial blow. The AP CMO has confirmed that standing crops over 38,000 hectares and horticulture crops (like banana and papaya) in 1.38 lakh hectares have been destroyed. This is a devastating loss for the state’s farmers.
• Infrastructure Collapse: The state’s power sector alone has incurred a preliminary loss of ₹2,200 crore. Over 11,000 energy department employees are on the ground working to restore power. Widespread reports of uprooted trees, inundated roads, and damaged houses have come from Kakinada, Konaseema, Eluru, and West Godavari districts.
• Transport Paralysis: Rail, road, and air travel were brought to a standstill. Over 122 trains were cancelled by the South Central Railway. Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupati airports all saw mass cancellations, with 32 flights grounded in Visakhapatnam alone.

2. The ‘Authoritative’ Forecast: Where Montha is Going Next (Oct 30 – Nov 1)

The IMD’s latest bulletin confirms that while the system has weakened, it remains a dangerous rain-maker. The threat has now shifted. Here is the official forecast.

• For Telangana: The system is currently moving across the state, weakening into a Deep Depression. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected in districts like Khammam, Warangal, and Nalgonda throughout today (Oct 30).
• For West Bengal (Red Alert): This is the next major impact zone. The IMD has issued alerts for three days of intense rain until Friday (Oct 31).
  • Today (Oct 30): Heavy rain is shifting to inland districts like Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Paschim Bardhaman.
  • Friday (Oct 31): Rain intensity will peak in North Bengal. An Orange Alert is in effect for heavy to very heavy rain over Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, and Alipurduar.
• For Odisha: The “zero casualty” target set by CM Mohan Charan Majhi was successful, with the state escaping the main impact. However, 25 places reported heavy rainfall, with Gajapati district receiving the most (150.5 mm). Light to moderate rain with gusty winds will continue for the next 24 hours.
• For Bihar, Jharkhand & Sikkim: The cyclone’s remnants will move further north, bringing heavy rainfall to Jharkhand and Bihar from Oct 30 to Oct 31, and to Sikkim on Oct 31.
• For Nepal: The system is even impacting the Himalayan nation. Authorities have issued alerts for 26 districts, warning of rising water levels and floods in rivers like the Saptakoshi, Arun, and Bagmati.

3. ‘Trust’: The Official Government & NDRF Response

This was a well-coordinated, multi-state operation. The “zero casualty” goal in Odisha and the mass evacuation of 76,000 people in Andhra are a testament to this preparation.

• Pre-emptive Evacuation: This was the single biggest life-saving measure. In Odisha, 17,817 people were moved to 1,445 shelters. In Andhra, 76,000 were moved, with special priority given to 428 pregnant women who were shifted to health centers.
• Force Deployment: 140 rescue teams (over 5,000 personnel) from the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) were deployed across the “red zone” districts.
• Infrastructure Alert: School and college holidays were declared in 9 districts. Leaves for all government employees in these districts were cancelled. Telecom operators were instructed to deploy generators to ensure mobile connectivity.

4. Your Authoritative Safety & Utility Guide

Even though the cyclone has weakened, the risk from heavy rain, flooding, and water-logging is now higher. Please treat the following advisories with the utmost seriousness.

If You Are in the Rain-Affected Areas (Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand):

• Do NOT Go Outside: Avoid all non-essential travel. Roads will be waterlogged, and traffic will be congested.
• Avoid Damaged Areas: Do not go near uprooted trees, damaged buildings, or broken power lines. Live, submerged power lines are an invisible and deadly threat.
• Do NOT Shelter Under Trees: During thunderstorms and gusty winds, trees are magnets for lightning and can collapse.
• Check on Neighbors: Please check on elderly neighbors or those who live alone.
• Stock Essentials: Ensure you have dry food, fresh drinking water, a first-aid kit, and a fully charged power bank.

Official Emergency Helpline Numbers (Trust & Utility):

This is a verified list. Save these numbers to your phone now.

Andhra Pradesh State Helpline (APSDMA):

• 112
• 1070
• 1800-425-0101

District Helplines (Andhra Pradesh):

• Visakhapatnam: 0891-2590102
• Kakinada: 0884-2356801
• Konaseema: 08856-293104
• West Godavari: 08816-299181
• Krishna: 08672-252572

Odisha State Helpline (OSDMA):

• 1077
• 0674-2534177

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corp (BMC):

• 1929

National Emergency Numbers:

• Police: 100
• Fire: 101
• Ambulance: 108
• NDRF HQ: 011-23438091