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The heavy rainfall alert across India, effective from October 28, 2025, is primarily due to Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha, which is forming over the Bay of Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall along coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and parts of Chhattisgarh, with orange and yellow alerts extending to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa. Montha made landfall near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, between 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on October 28, with winds of up to 110 km/h (68 mph) and rainfall exceeding 590 mm (23 in) in some districts of Odisha, such as Gajapati.
The cyclone is expected to weaken after landfall, but bring widespread, heavy to very heavy rainfall until October 31, affecting nearly 4 million people in eight states. Immediate Impacts
The alert has prompted rapid government and community responses, minimizing direct casualties so far but disrupting daily life and infrastructure:
Evacuations and Human Safety: More than 50,000 residents have been relocated to relief camps in low-lying areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, including 5,400 in Gajapati district alone. Emergency personnel’s vacations have been canceled, and fishermen are prohibited from going to sea. No major casualties have yet been reported, but the high alert status remains in effect in coastal districts.
Sixty-five trains were canceled in Karnataka due to the risk of flooding, and flights were delayed or suspended at airports in Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Kakinada. Restrictions on sea bathing and the use of motor pumps have been imposed in Puri, Odisha, to prevent flooding. Education and Public Services: Schools and colleges are closed in affected districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 km/h) are forecast, exacerbating risks in urban areas such as Chennai and Ranchi.
These measures have prevented worse outcomes, but highlight vulnerabilities in coastal and eastern regions.
Consequences
As the cyclone continues to develop, early consequences include:
Isolated heavy rains have already caused flooding in Puri and Gajapati, with the risk of flash flooding in low-lying areas. Rough seas and winds could damage crops, roads, and power lines, potentially impacting agriculture in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, key centers for rice production and fishing.
Economic losses are estimated to be in the millions, similar to previous cyclones, with disruptions to supply chains in southern ports.
Prolonged rains could trigger landslides in mountainous areas such as Koraput and Rayagada (Odisha), and vector-borne diseases following flooding. For 72 hours, east-central India faces sustained heavy rains that will overload drainage systems in urban centers such as Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
With schools closed and transportation disrupted, daily wage earners in fishing and farming communities are facing income losses. However, proactive evacuations and emergency relief (e.g., by NDRF teams) have contained the immediate humanitarian crises.
As of the evening of October 28, no widespread deaths or major structural collapses had been reported, thanks to timely warnings from the IMD.
Cyclone Montha highlights India’s recurring vulnerability to Bay of Bengal cyclones during the post-monsoon season, highlighting the need for improved early warning systems and resilient infrastructure.
The IMD’s multi-level alerts (red for immediate action, orange for preparedness) have proven effective in scaling up evacuations and avoiding disaster-scale losses, but gaps in rural connectivity and climate adaptation remain evident.
As the storm weakens inland between October 29 and 30, the focus will be on recovery: restoring transportation, assessing crop damage, and monitoring secondary flooding in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Residents in alert areas should stay indoors, avoid flooded areas, and follow local recommendations.
In the long term, this event reinforces the call for sustainable coastal management in the face of increasing cyclone intensity due to climate change.
IMD updates indicate lighter rainfall after October 31, allowing for a gradual return to normal. For real-time monitoring, please refer to official IMD bulletins or apps like Windy Radar.
