Bhubaneswar, October 30: The Odisha government has initiated the assessment of damage caused by Cyclone 'Montha,' which recently affected the state, officials said on Thursday. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that the cyclone led to significant destruction in several sectors, particularly affecting crops, cotton cultivation, and vegetables across multiple districts.
Cyclone 'Montha' made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday evening before moving into Odisha. It impacted residents in 11 urban areas of the state. The cyclone has since moved out of the state and has weakened into a low-pressure system over the Vidarbha region. According to officials, the effects of the low-pressure area are expected to dissipate within the next three days.
Minister Pujari emphasized that district authorities have been instructed to complete the damage assessment—covering crops, public properties, roads, bridges, and infrastructure—within three days. This information will be vital for providing the affected people with the necessary assistance.
In response to the widespread damage, officials have also directed the concerned departments to expedite restoration efforts for roads and bridges. Reports of fresh landslides have come in from various districts, including Ganjam and Kandhamal, triggered by the heavy rainfall in the cyclone's aftermath.
A major landslide occurred along the Shankuda-Khiliganda Ghat Road in Raigada on Wednesday, severing road connectivity to the Bonda and Khilingi villages in the region. Another landslide was reported at Khariguda Ghat in the Raikia block of Kandhamal. Additionally, the incessant rain caused the collapse of portions of the Upara Byaghra Devi Temple in Kulada, Ganjam.
The Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre issued a forecast on Thursday stating that rainfall and thunderstorms are likely to continue across various parts of Odisha until November 1. For Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted light to moderate rain or thunderstorms in the districts of interior Odisha, with some areas possibly experiencing showers.
A yellow warning has been issued for light to moderate rains in districts such as Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, and Mayurbhanj on October 31. On November 1, thunderstorms with lightning, accompanied by gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 40 km/h, are expected in districts like Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh.
