Cyclone ‘Montha’ Turns Severe; Heavy Rain Warning in South India, Schools Closed in Two Tamil Nadu Districts, 60 Trains Cancelled
Chennai, October 28 (Udaipur Kiran): Cyclone Montha, formed over the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The storm is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Kakinada, Machilipatnam, and Kalingapatnam on Tuesday evening or night, with wind speeds likely reaching up to 110 km per hour.
As a precaution, schools in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu have been closed. The IMD has also issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.
The department said that Montha formed over the south-west and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal last Sunday. As of Monday, it was located about 400 km east of Chennai, 500 km south-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), and 800 km west of Port Blair, moving northwestward at a speed of 17 kmph.
The IMD stated that the cyclone will cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, and its impact will also be felt in northern Tamil Nadu. Since Monday night, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and nearby districts have experienced heavy rainfall, which is expected to intensify further.
The weather department has forecast rain across most districts of Tamil Nadu from Tuesday afternoon, with very heavy rainfall likely in the northern districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Vellore, and Ranipet. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
Meanwhile, as Montha advances towards the coast, Andhra Pradesh has been placed under a red alert across 16 districts. The cyclone’s impact has disrupted transport services — 60 trains have been cancelled, and over 20 trains rescheduled by Southern Railway. Additionally, 12 flights between Chennai and Visakhapatnam and other parts of Andhra Pradesh have been cancelled.
Strong winds are expected to lash Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram districts this evening as the storm nears landfall. Authorities in both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are on high alert, closely monitoring the situation.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
