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Power, Rail and Telecom Strain as Montha Hits Coast
Slow-Moving Cyclone Tests Andhra’s Resilience
Vijayawada/New Delhi: Cyclone Montha, classified as a Severe Cyclonic Storm by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), made landfall between Kakinada and Machilipatnam late at night on October 28, 2025, unleashing torrential rains and gale-force winds along the Andhra coast. At the time of landfall, IMD bulletins recorded sustained wind speeds of 90 to 100 kilometres per hour with gusts up to 110–120 kilometres per hour, accompanied by extremely heavy rain and a storm surge of up to 1.5 metres along low-lying areas of Konaseema and Krishna districts. The system moved north-northwestward at a speed of around 15 kilometres per hour and is expected to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm while moving inland towards Telangana and south Chhattisgarh by tomorrow evening.
IMD’s red alerts remained in force for seven Andhra districts — Konaseema, Kakinada, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore — warning of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 200 millimetres in 24 hours and localised flooding in riverine belts. Orange alerts were issued for neighbouring districts in Odisha and north Tamil Nadu, with moderate to heavy rain extending towards Telangana and Hyderabad’s outskirts. The storm’s slow movement has raised concerns of prolonged flooding and soil instability, with the IMD advising continued caution for the next 48 hours.
Preliminary damage reports from the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) confirmed at least one death and up to four probable fatalities due to wall collapses, falling trees and electrocution in Konaseema and West Godavari districts. Over 50,000 people were evacuated to around 600 relief shelters set up by the state government, with rescue operations continuing in low-lying villages along the Godavari and Krishna deltas. The Indian Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have deployed teams equipped with inflatable boats, chainsaws and satellite communication kits for emergency response, while the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has reinforced local search and rescue operations in Amalapuram, Razole and Kothapeta mandals. Coastal patrols reported isolated incidents of fishermen stranded at sea, though the majority had been warned earlier to return to harbour.
The cyclone damaged more than 40,000 hectares of agricultural land, flattening paddy and banana plantations and inundating fish ponds and coconut groves across Konaseema, Krishna and West Godavari. Initial estimates indicate losses to over 83,000 farmers. Electricity infrastructure bore the brunt, with over 3.5 lakh consumers experiencing outages after 33 kilovolt lines snapped in Vijayawada, Kakinada and Guntur divisions. Officials said power restoration teams were working through the night but high winds continued to impede access. APSPDCL and Transco have estimated overall infrastructure losses at around ₹2,200 crore, a figure that may rise as damage assessments expand to rural areas.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is overseeing operations from the state control room in Vijayawada, held multiple review meetings with district collectors and commanders of relief forces. He directed 153 rescue and engineering teams to clear debris, restore power supply, and provide immediate assistance to affected families. In a late-night briefing, Naidu stated that priority was being given to saving lives and ensuring the continuity of essential services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Ministry were in touch with the state leadership, reviewing the impact through the National Crisis Management Committee. No major communication blackouts were reported, with satellite and telecom networks operating largely uninterrupted.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) established a 24×7 control room at its Andhra Pradesh Licensed Service Area office in Vijayawada to coordinate with telecom operators and state authorities. In line with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 2020, Intra-Circle Roaming and Cell Broadcast systems were tested and activated to ensure public warning messages reached users across networks. DoT confirmed that the indigenously developed Cell Broadcast platform had been successfully tested at the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority and deployed for real-time alerts. Telecom Service Providers were directed to keep fuel reserves and mobile Cell-on-Wheels units ready for deployment in areas where tower infrastructure might fail. By today evening, ICR connectivity allowed seamless call handover between networks in Konaseema and Krishna districts, helping relief teams coordinate operations.
Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the preparedness of the railway network through a video conference with general managers of the East Coast Railway (ECoR), South Coast Railway (SCoR) and South Central Railway (SCR) zones. Divisional war rooms in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Guntur have been activated for real-time response. Essential materials, machinery and manpower have been kept in readiness, particularly in Waltair and Khurda Road divisions. Vaishnaw directed zones to maintain unbroken communication links and resume train operations only after safety inspections of tracks and overhead equipment. Around two dozen trains were cancelled or diverted as a precaution.
In Odisha, the Special Relief Commissioner placed the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada on alert for heavy rain and flash floods as the storm moved inland. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Fire Service teams were deployed to low-lying areas, while Telangana State Disaster Management Authority issued advisories for Adilabad, Nizamabad and Khammam. By late night, rain bands had reached Hyderabad, bringing gusty winds and occasional lightning.
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences said the cyclone would likely retain severe intensity for six hours after landfall before weakening into a cyclonic storm by tomorrow afternoon and a deep depression by Thursday morning over southern Telangana. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the Bay of Bengal until further notice due to rough sea conditions and wave heights exceeding three metres.
As recovery efforts begin, officials acknowledged that the slow-moving nature of Cyclone Montha and its intense rainfall could cause prolonged disruption to transport and communication networks. Authorities are now focusing on clearing fallen trees, restoring power and telecom lines, and ensuring relief supplies reach remote villages. The event has once again underlined the need for coastal resilience strategies as warming seas contribute to more frequent and slow-moving cyclonic systems in the Bay of Bengal.
– global bihari bureau
