Bhubaneswar, Oct 27: A new cyclone named ‘Montha’ has formed over the Bay of Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system is currently located about 680 km southeast of Kakinada and is moving west-northwestward at a speed of 16 km per hour.
The IMD has warned that the system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning (October 28) and may make landfall between Tuesday evening and night, crossing the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam via Kakinada. During landfall, wind speeds may reach up to 110 km per hour, officials said.
At present, the deep depression is centered about 860 km from Gopalpur and 710 km from Kakinada. It is expected to continue moving northwestward and gain further intensity over the next 24 hours.
While Odisha is not expected to experience the direct impact of the cyclone, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over southern and coastal Odisha till October 29, with rains likely to commence from Monday.
The Odisha government has initiated war-footing preparations to tackle any possible impact. The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has canceled holidays in nine districts and deployed 128 rescue teams to carry out evacuation operations in vulnerable areas.
Authorities have urged fishermen not to venture into the sea and have advised coastal residents to remain alert to further updates.
