Severe cyclonic storm Montha caused widespread damage in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 3 deaths in Andhra, thousands of hectares of crops destroyed, and roads-bridges damaged. The Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas.
Cyclone Montha: The severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ has caused extensive damage in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Montha led to three deaths in Andhra Pradesh, and heavy rainfall extensively damaged roads and crops in Telangana. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the deceased. He personally supervised relief operations and instructed officials to submit a detailed report on the damage.
Rainfall and Flood Situation in Telangana
Under the influence of Cyclone Montha, several districts in Telangana experienced heavy rainfall. Warangal, Jangaon, Hanamkonda, Mahabubabad, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Rajanna Sircilla, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Khammam, Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli, and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts were affected by the rain. The capital city, Hyderabad, also saw significant weather impact. According to the Telangana Development Planning Society, Bhimadevarapalle in Hanamkonda district recorded 412.3 mm of rainfall from 8:30 AM to 9 PM. Kalepada in Warangal district received 382.3 mm, Urus 336.8 mm, and Redlavada 333.3 mm.
Impact of Cyclone in Andhra Pradesh
After Cyclone Montha made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, three people died in the state. The Chief Minister instructed officials to provide an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased. The storm hit the coast on Tuesday midnight. According to preliminary reports, crops, roads, and bridges have been extensively damaged.
The report submitted to the Chief Minister stated that Montha destroyed crops on 87,000 hectares of land. Paddy, maize, cotton, and black gram crops were affected in 304 mandals. Additionally, crops on 59,000 hectares are submerged. A total of 78,796 farmers have been affected.
Estimated Damage to Roads and Bridges
380 kilometers of roads belonging to the Panchayati Raj department and 2,300 kilometers of roads under the R&B department were damaged. 14 bridges were also affected. Officials estimated the damage to roads and bridges at Rs 1,424 crore and the impact on rural water supply infrastructure at Rs 36 crore. In addition to the three human fatalities during the cyclone, 42 cattle also perished.
Chief Minister's Aerial Tour
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu conducted an aerial survey of the affected districts. He visited Bapatla, Palnadu, Krishna, Konaseema, and Eluru districts. During his tour, he stated that b winds swept the coast, and heavy rainfall occurred in Prakasam and Nellore districts. He informed that the wind speed had reached up to 75 kilometers per hour.
