Severe Cyclone 'Montha' Causes Heavy Rainfall and Damage in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

Impact of Cyclone 'Montha' in Telangana

On Wednesday, Telangana experienced significant rainfall due to the devastating effects of Cyclone 'Montha', which had crossed the coast of neighboring Andhra Pradesh overnight. Various incidents related to the rainfall resulted in one fatality, with another person reported missing.

Regions in Telangana such as Warangal, Jangaon, Hanumakonda, Mahabubabad, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Rajanna Sircilla, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Khammam, Nalgonda, and Peddapalli, along with Hyderabad, witnessed heavy downpours.

Rainfall Measurements

According to the Telangana Development Planning Society, from 8:30 AM to 9 PM, Bhimadevarapalle in Hanumakonda district recorded 412.3 mm of rainfall. Following this, Kaledha in Warangal district saw 382.3 mm, Urus received 336.8 mm, and Redlawada recorded 333.3 mm.

Casualties and Damage in Andhra Pradesh

As Cyclone 'Montha' moved past the Andhra Pradesh coast, the death toll rose to three. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu instructed officials to provide a compensation of five lakh rupees to the families of the deceased. The cyclone made landfall around midnight on Tuesday.

An official statement revealed that the cyclone has resulted in three fatalities in the state, prompting the Chief Minister to direct compensation for the affected families.

Extent of Agricultural Damage

Initial assessments presented to Naidu indicated that Cyclone 'Montha' has damaged crops across 87,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh, along with 380 kilometers of Panchayati Raj roads, 2,300 kilometers of roads managed by the Roads and Buildings department, and 14 bridges.

Officials reported that crops including rice, maize, cotton, and urad have been destroyed in 304 mandals, affecting 78,796 farmers. Additionally, 59,000 hectares of crops are submerged, leading to significant agricultural losses.

Economic Impact and Government Response

Authorities estimated damages of 1,424 crore rupees due to the destruction of roads and bridges, along with 36 crore rupees from the impact on rural water supply infrastructure. Besides the three fatalities, 42 animals also perished during the cyclone.

The government noted that precautionary measures helped minimize the overall damage. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister began aerial surveys of the cyclone-affected areas, visiting districts such as Bapatla, Palnadu, Krishna, Konaseema, and Eluru.

Chief Minister's Observations

During his visit, Naidu reported that strong winds reached speeds of 75 km/h upon the cyclone's landfall, while heavy rainfall was recorded in the Prakasam and Nellore districts. He mentioned that if wind speeds had exceeded this, coconut trees in Konaseema could have sustained damage.

Naidu acknowledged that while homes and livestock suffered minimal damage, recurring civic issues such as blocked drainage systems remain a concern. He visited a relief camp in the village of Odalarevu in Konaseema district, where he distributed essential supplies, including 25 kilograms of rice and 3,000 rupees in cash per family.

Conclusion

He stated, 'This cyclone has caused extensive damage and is a significant disaster for the state. However, we have managed to mitigate some of the losses. We have relocated 1.8 lakh people to relief camps, and I came to assess the situation in these camps.'