Severe Cyclone Montha heads towards Andhra, CM puts top officials on alert, Pg 11.

Key Highlights:

• Cyclone Montha, named by Thailand, is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 210 mm in 24 hours over Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Odisha.
• The IMD classified Montha as a “severe cyclonic storm”, likely to intensify further with wind speeds of 90–110 km/h gusting up to 120 km/h.
• The Rayalaseema region will witness extreme rainfall on October 27–28.
• Andhra CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has placed all district collectors and SPs on high alert and conducted a teleconference to ensure administrative readiness.
• Control rooms have been set up in vulnerable districts (Guntur, Nellore, Chittoor, Kakinada, Bapatla, YSR Kadapa).
• The Odisha government has also activated its disaster readiness model, placing NDRF, SDRF, and health services on standby.
• Educational institutions in affected districts have been given holidays, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

Detailed Insights:

• Cyclone Formation:
  • The system developed from a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which intensified into a deep depression, then a severe cyclonic storm due to warm sea surface temperatures (>28°C) and low vertical wind shear.
• Predicted Path:
  • The cyclone is expected to cross the Andhra coast between Machilipatnam and Kakinada, moving northwestwards thereafter.
• Impact Forecast:
  • Heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal districts; localized flooding, crop loss, and power disruptions anticipated.
  • Fishermen and coastal residents advised evacuation from low-lying areas.
• Disaster Management Measures:
  • NDRF and SDRF teams deployed; hospitals and shelters readied for emergencies.
  • Emphasis on drinking water, electricity backup, and communications restoration post-landfall.
  • Real-time coordination between IMD, NDMA, and state control centers for warning dissemination.
• Odisha’s Preparedness Model:
  • Odisha has adopted a proactive disaster mitigation model since Cyclone Fani (2019), focusing on early evacuation, resilient infrastructure, and zero-casualty planning.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Tropical Cyclone: A rapidly rotating storm system over warm ocean waters characterized by low pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.
• Cyclone Categorization (IMD):
  • Depression: 31–49 km/h
  • Deep Depression: 50–61 km/h
  • Cyclonic Storm: 62–88 km/h
  • Severe Cyclonic Storm: 89–117 km/h
  • Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: 118–165 km/h
• Disaster Preparedness Model: Refers to coordinated action involving early warning systems, evacuation, relief operations, and inter-agency communication.