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New Delhi:
Cyclonic storm "Montha" is moving steadily towards the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to make landfall near Kakinada between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on Tuesday evening.
Here are the top 10 points in this story:
- Cyclone Montha is expected to hit Andhra Pradesh with a maximum wind speed of 90-100 kmph, with the entire coastal region being on high alert.
- In an update around 9:30 am today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Montha over the westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north to northwestwards with a speed of 15 kmph during the past six hours and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.
- It is likely to continue to move north-northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening and night of Tuesday as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph and gusting to 110 kmph, the weather body said.
- After hitting the Andhra coast, Cyclone Montha will slow down somewhat and move towards Odisha, Dr M Mohapatra, Director General of the IMD, told NDTV.
- Mohapatra also said that Andhra Pradesh will be the "most affected", followed by Odisha and then Chhattisgarh. "Heavy rainfall will continue in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu between October 28 and 30," he said.
- South Central Railway and East Coast Railway have announced the cancellation of over 100 trains for the next two days.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu over the phone and assured him of every possible support to the state.
- The government has deployed 22 teams of the National Disaster Response Force in all five states that are likely to be affected -- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh.
- The authorities have advised people to remain indoors. People in coastal areas have been asked to move to relief camps. With the sea turning rough and a possibility of high tidal waves, fishermen have been advised not to venture out to sea. All beaches have been shut for tourists.
- The Odisha government, meanwhile, has evacuated people from vulnerable places. Eight southern districts where a "red alert" has been declared are experiencing light rain. All districts have been put on alert in case the cyclone changes trajectory.
