Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], October 27 : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rain and landslide alerts for several districts of Odisha as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the eastern coast.
IMD Bhubaneswar Director Dr Manorama Mohanty said the cyclone is expected to intensify by the morning of October 28 and make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, by the evening or night of the same day.
Mohanty also raised concerns over the storm likely to reach severe cyclonic intensity with wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, bringing heavy rainfall to Odisha over the next two to three days.
"The cyclone is expected to intensify by the morning of 28 October. It is likely to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada, around the evening and night of 28 October. While crossing, the cyclonic storm will have the intensity of a severe cyclonic storm, having the wind speed of 90-100 kmph. Because of this, Odisha is expected to receive heavy rainfall activity over the next 2-3 days," Dr Mohanty told ANI.
Meanwhile, with Cyclone Montha approaching, Odisha has deployed 123 fire service units across the state, prioritising eight districts classified as "red zones."
The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams are equipped with rescue boats, motor rafts, power saws, and generators to carry out swift rescue and relief operations. Fire personnel are engaged in search-and-rescue, evacuation, debris clearance, and distribution of essential supplies.
Fire services teams are also assisting local administrations in the large-scale evacuation of vulnerable residents from low-lying and hilly areas to safe shelters. Round-the-clock control rooms are operational to monitor the situation and coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
Odisha Fire Services personnel, trained to handle multiple emergencies, are equipped with modern technology to respond to various contingencies.
Nine additional firefighter teams were dispatched from Bhubaneswar today, eight to Gajapati district and one to Ganjam district, as landslides are anticipated in Gajapati and the Kalinga Ghat section between Kandhamal and Ganjam districts.