Cyclone Montha Nears Andhra Coast: IMD Issues Orange Alert for Kerala as Heavy Rains Lash State

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is on high alert as Cyclone Montha, brewing in the Bay of Bengal, moves closer to India’s east coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued orange and yellow alerts across ten districts in the state, warning residents of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds over the next 48 hours.

An orange alert has been issued for Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod, while yellow alerts are in place for Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Wayanad. The Kerala government has banned fishing operations along the coast as the sea is expected to be rough.

Meanwhile, the IMD reported two deep depressions — one over the central-eastern Arabian Sea, moving northeastward, and another over the southeastern Bay of Bengal, which is rapidly intensifying into a cyclonic storm. Meteorologists forecast that the Bay system will strengthen into Cyclone Montha by early October 27 and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28, with wind speeds reaching up to 110 kmph.

The storm is expected to make landfall near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on the Andhra Pradesh coast, by the evening of October 28. Neighboring states, including Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, have been placed on high alert. Odisha has declared a red alert in multiple districts and identified five as highly vulnerable.

Both National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed in the coastal regions of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala to manage any emergencies. Authorities have urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to relocate to safer zones and follow government advisories.

An IMD official cautioned, “Given the combination of heavy rains and approaching cyclonic conditions, residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid coastal travel, and closely monitor official weather updates.”

Originally published on newsworldstime.com.