Cyclone Montha Slams Odisha: State on Red Alert as Memories of 1999 Super Cyclone Resurface

Bhubaneswar: As Cyclone Montha intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, heavy rains lashed several southern districts of Odisha on Tuesday, bringing back chilling memories of the 1999 Super Cyclone that claimed nearly 10,000 lives.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Montha is expected to make landfall late Tuesday evening, prompting red alerts across multiple coastal districts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone is expected to bring intense rainfall, powerful winds, and potential flooding across low-lying regions.

Odisha on High Alert

The Odisha government has taken extensive preventive measures to avoid a repeat of past disasters.

• Evacuation & Shelter: Over 1,400 cyclone shelters have been readied in eight vulnerable districts, stocked with emergency food and medical supplies. People from low-lying areas and landslide-prone slopes in Malkangiri, Koraput, and Ganjam have been evacuated. Pregnant women have been shifted to hospitals for safety.
• Rescue Operations: A total of 140 rescue teams, including over 5,000 personnel from NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Services, have been deployed across the state.
• Public Safety Measures: Schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centers have been closed until October 30, while all beaches remain shut. Government employees’ leaves have been cancelled until further notice.
• Transport & Ports: Train services on the East Coast and South Central Railway have been cancelled or diverted. Ports have been directed to hoist high-level cyclone warning signals.

Ghost of the 1999 Super Cyclone

The current situation has evoked painful memories of the 1999 Paradip Super Cyclone, one of India’s deadliest natural disasters, which made landfall on October 29, 1999, with winds exceeding 250 km/h.

That storm devastated coastal Odisha, especially Jagatsinghpur district, which alone recorded over 8,000 deaths. Official reports confirmed 9,885 fatalities statewide, alongside catastrophic economic losses.

Economic Destruction in 1999:

• 13 lakh hectares of paddy crops destroyed
• 1.76 lakh hectares of vegetables wiped out
• 2.57 lakh hectares of other crops lost
• 22,143 fishing nets and 9,085 boats destroyed
• Crop loss worth ₹1,733 crore

Entire regions were cut off, with power and communication lines down for days in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, leaving millions stranded.

IMD Issues Red, Orange & Yellow Alerts

The IMD has classified warnings for the ongoing weather system as follows:

• 🔴 Red Alert: Extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) expected in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
• 🟠 Orange Alert: Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7–20 cm) likely in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Puri districts.
• 🟡 Yellow Alert: Moderate rainfall (7–11 cm) forecast for Balasore, Bhadrak, and Cuttack.

Preparedness vs. Panic

Authorities say Odisha is better prepared than ever to face cyclones, thanks to decades of improved disaster management systems, early warning technology, and a dedicated network of cyclone shelters.

Still, for many residents, Montha’s arrival revives haunting memories of 1999 — the “Ghost of 10,000 Deaths” — reminding everyone of the importance of vigilance and preparedness as nature’s fury returns to the Bay of Bengal coast.

Originally published on newsworldstime.com.