Indian Army on High Alert as IMD Warns Cyclone ‘Montha’ to Hit Andhra Coast with 100 kmph Winds by Oct 28
The Indian Army said on Sunday it is proactively looking for the deep depression over Bay of Bengal that IMD predicted to intensify into a cyclonic storm in next 24 hours and turn into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 26: The Indian Army on Sunday announced that they have been put on high alert in light of the emerging cyclonic base over East Central Arabian Sea as well as South East Bay of Bengal, one of which – the latter - is likely to intensify into a Cyclone named ‘Montha’ during the next 48 hours.
Cyclone Path
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Saturday said the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal has moved westwards and is likely to become deep depression and subsequently into a cyclonic storm.
It will intensify into a deep depression on 26th October (Sunday) and into a cyclonic storm over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, by the morning of 27th October( Monday). It is expected to move further and reach the Andhra coast near Kakinada by Tuesday night, with maximum wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, reported the India Meteorological Department.
Government Action
Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on Cyclone in Bay of Bengal here today to review preparedness at the central and State levels regarding it. The Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry along with the Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha briefed the Committee on preparedness for protection of Population in the anticipated track path of Cyclonic storm & precautionary measures by local administration.
IMD Forecast
In a post on X at around 4 pm on Sunday, the IMD said The deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved north-westwards with speed of five kmph during past six hours and lay centered over southeast Bay of Bengal, near latitude 10.7 N and longitude 88.1 E (about 620 km west of Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), 770 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu),820 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam(Andhra Pradesh),810 kin south-east for Kakinada(Andhra Pradesh).
It is very likely to move nearly westwards and emerge into the southeast Bay of Bengal on 6 May morning, IMD said. It is then likely to recurve north westwards and then north-northwestward and become a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28, the IMD said.
Relief Efforts
Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin is keeping a close tab on the situation through video conferences with top officials, including police department officials, and has directed the civic body to take all precautionary measures for public safety. For Chennai and suburbs, the sky might be partly cloudy on Thursday and maximum temperatures are expected to hover around 29 degrees Celsius while it will be a minimum of 24-25 degrees Celsius. A spell of 1 or 2 episodes of light to moderate rain/thundershowers with lightning very likely during next 24-48 hours.
Safety Measures
Fishermen have been also advised not to go out into the sea till October 28 and those, who are at deep sea areas have been suggested to return by Saturday evening.
