Cyclone Montha wreaks havoc in several states, killing two people in Andhra Pradesh and destroying 1.5 lakh acres of crops.

New Delhi: Cyclone Montha has caused significant damage in several states, including Andhra Pradesh. Two more people died in Andhra Pradesh, and 1.5 lakh acres of standing crops were destroyed. The cyclone also affected several other states, including Telangana, Odisha, and West Bengal. Montha weakened after hitting the Andhra coast late Tuesday night. However, heavy rain and strong winds uprooted trees, collapsed houses, and flooded roads in several places, disrupting power supply and traffic. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has predicted light to moderate rainfall in parts of Andhra Pradesh and the northern coastal areas for two days.

The cyclone weakened after hitting the Machilipatnam coast of Andhra Pradesh at midnight on Tuesday. Montha, meaning fragrant flower, crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapur in West Godavari district on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force are continuously engaged in rehabilitation work in the state.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu conducted an aerial survey of the cyclone-affected districts. He said that due to vigilance, damage was minimal. He also visited relief camps in villages in the worst-hit Konaseema district and distributed 25 kg of rice, other essential items, and Rs 3,000 in cash to each family. He said that this is a huge disaster for the state, but due to precautionary measures, we were able to minimize the damage. The government evacuated 1.8 lakh people to safer places.

Heavy rains in Telangana, red alert for six districts
Heavy rains lashed Telangana, bordering Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday due to the impact of the cyclone. The districts most affected by the rain were Warangal, Jangaon, Hanumakonda, Mahabubabad, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli, and Hyderabad. The Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Warangal, Hanumakonda, Mahabubabad, Jangaon, Siddipet, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts on Wednesday. It stated that these districts may experience thunderstorms and winds with gusts of up to 40-50 kmph in some districts.

500 Children Stranded in School in Nalgonda
In Nalgonda district, 500 children and 26 teachers and staff were trapped in a residential school. They were later evacuated and taken to safer locations. Meanwhile, in Mahabubabad district, several trains were cancelled due to waterlogging in the yard, while some trains were partially cancelled and diverted.

Rain alert in Bengal today
Kolkata. Heavy rain is forecast in many parts of West Bengal until Friday as Cyclone Montha weakens. According to the Meteorological Department, the weather system is moving north-northwestward, and therefore, light to moderate rain is expected in South Bengal. Meanwhile, heavy rain is forecast in South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, and Purulia districts until Friday. Bureau

2,000 pregnant women kept in maternity homes in Odisha
Heavy rains occurred in 25 places in Odisha. More than 2,000 pregnant women were admitted to maternity homes to protect them from the effects of the cyclone. The cyclone made landfall in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Wednesday morning, generating high waves in the sea. Wind speeds have reached 80-100 kmph. Gajapati district received the most rainfall, recording 150.5 mm of rain, said Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Department. Heavy rain is also expected at some places on Thursday.