India Evacuates 50,000 as Cyclone Montha Intensifies Over Bay of Bengal
India has begun large-scale evacuations ahead of Cyclone Montha’s landfall, moving nearly 50,000 people to relief camps in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the cyclone, intensifying over the Bay of Bengal, is likely to strengthen into a severe storm by Tuesday before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast later in the day. Authorities have cancelled holidays for emergency personnel and ordered the closure of schools and colleges in vulnerable coastal regions.
Disaster response teams have been deployed to evacuate residents from low-lying areas in Kakinada district and other coastal zones, with the Andhra Pradesh government estimating that nearly 3.9 million people could be affected by the storm. Fishermen in neighbouring Odisha have been warned to avoid venturing into the sea as the region braces for heavy rainfall and strong winds.
The southern state of Tamil Nadu has also issued alerts for heavy to very heavy rain, particularly in Chennai, which remains prone to flooding during intense downpours. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Nepal, authorities have warned of potential rain and snowfall from Tuesday through Friday, advising trekkers to remain cautious. The Himalayan nation has already recorded 53 fatalities from floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains earlier this month.
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