Cyclone 'Mungtha' made landfall on Tuesday evening around 7 PM on the Kakinada coast of Andhra Pradesh with a speed of 100 kmph. Several districts were affected by b winds and heavy rainfall. One woman died, electricity supply was disrupted, and several trains were cancelled.
Cyclone Mungtha: Cyclone 'Mungtha' made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday evening around 7 PM. The cyclone reached near Kakinada with a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. After this, it moved further in the direction of Odisha. Life in 15 districts of the state was severely affected due to b winds and heavy rainfall. Trees were uprooted in coastal areas, electricity supply was disrupted, and many villages were submerged.
Information from the Meteorological Department
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Mungtha crossed the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam. The department stated that the cyclone is now weakening. It is likely to turn into a deep depression in the next 24 hours, which will reduce the threat.
In Konaseema district, an elderly woman died when a tree fell on her house. Due to b winds, a boy and an auto-rickshaw driver were injured. Both are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The administration has announced financial assistance to the family of the deceased.
Affected Districts
The most significant impact of Mungtha was observed in Kakinada, Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Chintoor, and Rampachodavaram districts. The state government ordered a halt to vehicle movement in these seven districts from Tuesday night 8:30 PM to Wednesday morning 6 AM.
Administration's Preparedness
Disaster management agencies made extensive preparations for relief operations. The government installed 81 wireless towers and 21 large lamps to maintain emergency communication. To remove fallen trees, 1,447 earthmovers, 321 drones, and 1,040 chainsaw machines were deployed. Additionally, alert messages were sent to 3.6 crore citizens so they could move to safe locations.
Rainfall Data
Between 8:30 AM and 4 PM, 12.6 centimeters of rainfall was recorded in Ulvapadu, Nellore district. Kavali received 12.2 centimeters, Dagadarthi 12 centimeters, Singarayakonda 10.5 centimeters, and Visakhapatnam and Tuni 2 centimeters of rain. Heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in low-lying areas. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to expedite relief operations during a review meeting.
Due to b winds and rain, several trains were cancelled. The routes of some trains were diverted. Communication services were affected due to power supply disruption. Several highways remained closed, and fishermen were prohibited from venturing into the sea.
Increasing Impact in Odisha
After crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast, Mungtha has moved towards Odisha. Strong winds and rain have been recorded in several districts of Odisha. The administration has issued alerts in coastal areas, and people are being moved to relief camps.
