Cyclone Montha Aftermath: Two Dead in Andhra Pradesh as Relief Operations Continue

Cyclone Montha has weakened into a deep depression after making landfall and moving inland across Andhra Pradesh coast and into neighboring Telangana.

Hyderabad:

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu confirmed on Wednesday that two fatalities occurred following Cyclone Montha's landfall in the state.

The severe cyclonic storm Montha has now diminished into a deep depression as it moved inland through the Andhra Pradesh coastline and into adjacent Telangana. This transformation has allowed state authorities to shift their focus from emergency response protocols to implementing comprehensive relief and restoration operations across affected regions.

During a high-level review meeting held Wednesday, Chief Minister Naidu instructed officials to maintain relief efforts with urgency for the next 48 hours to maximize assistance for affected populations.

"If we maintain our current operational intensity for another two days, we can provide substantial relief to those affected. Two people have lost their lives due to the cyclone," Naidu stated.

He emphasized that the state's proactive preparedness measures had successfully minimized casualties throughout the disaster.

Naidu has directed state ministers and officials to conduct field visits to flood-impacted areas to evaluate damage across all sectors and accelerate the preparation of assessment reports for central government assistance.

The Andhra Pradesh government has already begun distributing essential supplies and financial aid to families affected by the cyclone.

Significant progress has been achieved in restoring critical infrastructure, particularly in the severely affected coastal districts.

In Konaseema district, where more than 300 electrical poles were uprooted and 54 substations damaged, power restoration has reached approximately 80% completion, with full service expected to resume within hours. Over 10,000 personnel have been deployed statewide to repair electrical infrastructure damage.

Restoration teams have successfully cleared fallen trees and debris from major roadways, including more than 134 kilometers of key transportation routes. Consequently, APSRTC bus services have fully resumed operations as of Wednesday. Traffic on National Highway 16 was also promptly restored after removing major obstructions.

Preliminary assessments indicate extensive agricultural damage, with standing crops across approximately 38,000 hectares and horticultural crops covering 1.38 lakh hectares reported as damaged by the cyclonic storm.

The government has announced financial assistance packages of Rs 3,000 for each family in relief camps, supplemented with essential commodities including 25 kg of rice, pulses, cooking oil, and sugar. Additional support has been arranged for fishermen and weavers, who will receive double the rice allocation (50 kg).

The revered pilgrimage destination of Srisailam Mahakshetra in Nandyal district has experienced significant impact due to continuous heavy rainfall and landslides, prompting ongoing travel advisories.

A substantial landslide occurred near the Patalaganga steps, a crucial pathway for devotees accessing the Krishna River. The debris flow completely destroyed three shops situated near the base of these steps, though fortunately, no casualties were reported as the area was unoccupied during the incident.

Transportation routes to Srisailam, including the Hyderabad-Srisailam highway (NH 765), remain severely disrupted due to widespread flooding and road damage. Authorities continue to advise the public against traveling to the area until the Red Warning for extreme rainfall is lifted and conditions improve.