The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a Yellow message. A pre-cyclone watch for the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and the surrounding south Odisha coasts, as a deep depression has formed in the Bay of Bengal. Over the past 6 hours, the depression has moved west-northwestward at a speed of 10 kmph.
According to a report by Newsonair, the Odisha Government has been preparing to tackle the upcoming disaster. To ensure preparedness against Cyclone Montha, all the government staff in the coastal districts of Odisha have been instructed to stay on standby. At the same time, in Balasore, leaves of government staff have been cancelled. All the government bodies, emergency response services have been instructed to stay on high alert to ensure a round-the-clock preparedness to handle any kind of possible emergency.
Rainfall warning
The IMD warning also mentioned that light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely on 26 October, and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on 27 October. There will be a positive increase in the rainfall activity, leading to light to moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (>20 cm) at isolated places over south Odisha and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over north Odisha on 28th & 29th October.
While the Gangetic West Bengal may experience light to moderate rainfall at most places and heavy rainfall at isolated places for the next two days.
Heavy wind
The cyclone system will strengthen and turn into a severe cyclone by Tuesday morning, and is likely to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam in the evening of Tuesday. Wind speed of 90-100km per hour is expected during this time with gusts reaching speeds up to 110 km per hour, as per the Newsonair report.
Impact and advisory
Breaking of tree branches, strong wind and heavy rain may damage plantations, horticulture and standing crops, kutcha houses/walls, huts and roads. Road and rail traffic may be affected due to heavy rain. There could be localised flash floods, landslides, mudslides, landslips, waterlogging, inundation and flooding over low-lying areas, and occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into east-central and nearby south-east Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep & Comorin Area and along & off Karnataka and Kerala coasts till 27 October, and northeast Arabian Sea and along & off Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts.
In the advisory, people have been advised to keep an eye on the weather for worsening conditions and be ready to move to safer places accordingly. In case of expected lightning, unplug electrical/ electronic appliances immediately, get out of water bodies and keep away from all objects that conduct electricity.
