Amaravati, Oct 28 (NationPress) The severe cyclonic storm Montha made its landfall in the Bay of Bengal near Kakinada on Tuesday night, unleashing intense rainfall and powerful winds across the region.

The cyclone began its landfall at approximately 8 p.m. at Antarvedipalli, situated between Kakinada and Machilipatnam.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this landfall process could persist for an additional two hours.

At the time of landfall, wind speeds were expected to reach between 90-110 km per hour.

Reports indicated that numerous trees were uprooted and electrical supply was disrupted in various towns and villages throughout the coastal districts.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu remained at the Real-Time Governance center on Tuesday evening to monitor the situation closely.

He urged officials to maintain vigilance throughout the night to avert loss of life and property.

In a teleconference with district collectors, the Chief Minister assessed the cyclone's current status and instructed ministers to visit affected areas, engage with residents, and initiate immediate relief measures to reassure them.

He stressed the importance of promptly restoring power by repairing damaged electrical poles and substations. Furthermore, he revealed that he has requested the central government to dispatch teams to evaluate the total damage caused by the cyclone, including crop losses.

The IMD forecasted that the impact of Montha could result in heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Telangana, South Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

The IMD advised residents to remain indoors for their safety and to stay updated with official announcements.

The cyclone's impact is anticipated to be most significant in the districts of Kakinada, Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and the Chinturu and Rampachodavaram divisions of Alluri Sitarama Raju.

The state government has mandated a suspension of vehicular movement in these seven districts from 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday until 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

District Collectors and Superintendents of Police were instructed to halt all traffic on roads, including national highways traversing these regions, with exceptions granted only for emergency medical services.

The government has urged all residents in these areas to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary outings, and stay alert.

This cyclone is expected to impact 403 mandals across 22 districts statewide. Officials have established 488 control rooms at the mandal level to manage the emergency.

A total of 1,204 relief camps have been set up, with 75,802 individuals evacuated to these shelters.

The IMD has issued a red alert for coastal districts, which are also at risk of flash floods.

The districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Nellore, Konaseema, and Kakinada are experiencing heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.

High tidal waves have caused damage to the Uppada-Kakinada beach road, leading authorities to close it for traffic.

Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the sea for five days, and all coastal activities have been suspended. Beaches are closed to tourists as well.

Meanwhile, Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on X that he had discussed immediate restoration actions with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and relevant railway officials.

In response, Chief Minister Naidu expressed gratitude to the Union Minister for his concern and support regarding Cyclone Montha, emphasizing that both the Union and State Governments are committed to mitigating the cyclone's effects, prioritizing public safety.