As Cyclone Montha advances over the Bay of Bengal, several eastern and southern Indian states — including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — have stepped up preparedness measures, anticipating heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next few days.

Here are the state-wise updates:

Andhra Pradesh on High Alert

The Alluri Seetharama Raju district police in Andhra Pradesh have issued an alert and closed all ghat roads from 6 a.m. on October 28, as the region braces for intense rainfall on October 28 and 29. A 24x7 control room (7780292811) has been activated, and residents have been urged to avoid rivers, culverts and hilly routes. Additional police forces, along with Fire, NDRF and emergency teams, have been deployed in landslide-prone areas.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday reviewed the situation with officials at the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) in Amaravati. He instructed district administrations to remain on high alert, strengthen canal embankments, and minimise crop loss in vulnerable regions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Naidu over the phone to review the cyclone preparedness. Following their discussion, IT Minister Nara Lokesh was asked to coordinate with the Prime Minister’s Office on relief efforts.

Odisha Begins Evacuations

The Odisha government has begun evacuating people from vulnerable hilly and low-lying areas across eight southern districts as Cyclone Montha intensifies. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that 128 disaster response teams have been deployed to assist in rescue and relief operations.

Tamil Nadu Braces for Rain, Minimal Cyclone Impact Expected

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said the cyclone is unlikely to cause significant damage in the state as it moves towards Andhra Pradesh. However, moderate rainfall of 5–7 cm is expected in North Chennai and Tiruvallur districts.

The state government has taken precautionary measures, including desilting 331 km of canals, cleaning 18 canals and 13 ponds, and removing 3.5 lakh tonnes of waste to prevent flooding.

West Bengal Readies for Heavy Rainfall

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall across several districts of West Bengal between Tuesday and Friday. The storm, expected to make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night, will also bring significant rainfall to North and South 24 Parganas, Medinipur, Purulia, and Bardhaman districts.

The IMD has warned of possible landslides in the hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, and advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea until Thursday.

IMD Forecast

According to the IMD, Cyclone Montha is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning before making landfall near Kakinada. The weather department has issued red and orange alerts across multiple states as the system continues to move northwestward.