Cyclonic Storm Montha: A severe weather threat looms over Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Montha, formed from a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, nears landfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Tuesday evening that the landfall process of the severe cyclonic storm has begun and will continue for the next three to four hours. Moving north-northwestwards at around 15 kmph, the cyclone was centred about 50 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 130 km south of Kakinada, and 230 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam. It is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada with maximum sustained wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph. Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are on high alert, carrying out preventive evacuations and readiness operations, as rough sea conditions and heavy to extremely heavy rainfall continue to batter the coastal districts.
Stay tuned with INDIA TV for real-time weather updates and government advisories as Cyclone Montha approaches...