Cyclone Montha: Evacuation of nearly 10,000 people begins in Konaseema

An estimated 10,000 people are being evacuated from the coastline in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district as heavy rains coupled with winds are expected to continue due to cyclone ‘Montha’. 

In a meeting attended by Special Officer on Cyclone Montha and Education Department Director V. Vijaya Ramaraju, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar said that nearly 10,000 people inhabiting along the coastal pockets are being evacuated to safer places in shelter homes.

“By Monday [October 27, 2025] evening, we have targeted to evacuate 6,000 people among the 10,000 people expected to be affected along the coastline. Those living in thatched houses are immediately being evacuated,” said the District Collector.

On the cyclone preparedness measures, Mr. Kumar has stated that hoardings are being removed along the 400-kilometre-long State highways and 60 kilometres of National Highway-216 as heavy winds are expected in the next two days.

The Irrigation Department authorities have also been told not to release Godavari water into the branch canals to avoid inundation of the standing paddy crop due to heavy rains expected to continue for the next 48 hours.

The farmers have been told not to visit the fields to avoid any untoward incidents due to lightning and heavy winds.

Pregnant women shifted to hospitals

As many as 126 pregnant women, whose delivery date is expected within a fortnight, have been shifted to nearby hospitals along the coastline in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. All of them are now under the care of doctors and will remain in the respective government hospitals until Cyclone Montha makes its landfall and dissipates.

All the basic amenities and commodities are stored in the 120 relief camps which have been opened as part of the relief operations.