BAPATLA: Severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha,’ active over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada by Tuesday evening or night.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts maximum sustained wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.

A Red Alert is active for 16 districts in Andhra Pradesh and coastal areas of Odisha. Over 38,000 people have been evacuated, and infrastructure damage has already been reported in Andhra Pradesh’s Bapatla district.

The cyclone’s influence extends far beyond the coast: 35 flights at Hyderabad airport and 32 trains in the Odisha region are cancelled.

Heavy rainfall is battering Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and moderate to heavy rain is also predicted for Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region between October 28 and 30.

Furthermore, meteorologists confirm the cyclonic system is expected to enter Nepal’s atmosphere by Thursday, becoming active in Koshi Province and extending through Madhes into central Nepal.