Latest news Cyclone threatens India's coast - 50,000 people evacuated
On the south-east coast of India, tens of thousands of coastal residents have been evacuated to emergency shelters ahead of the impact of an expected severe cyclone.
28.10.2025, 11:59
SDA
In addition, flights and trains have been canceled and schools closed in the states on the Bay of Bengal that are expected to be most at risk.
The cyclone "Montha" - the word is Thai for a fragrant flower - is expected to cross the coast of the state of Andhra Pradesh late on Tuesday evening (local time) or on Wednesday night, according to the head of the Indian Meteorological Department, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
Gusts of wind with speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour, heavy rainfall and tidal waves could lead to flooding and landslides, as well as uprooting trees and destroying crops, he said. An estimated 50,000 people - mainly fishermen from coastal villages in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the far south - were evacuated, according to the head of the weather authority.
Cyclones become more frequent between April and November
People on the Bay of Bengal had already felt the strong winds on Monday, as could be seen in photos from Ramakrishna beach near the city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Fishermen were asked not to go out to sea and beaches were closed to visitors. The news channel NDTV reported that at least 19 administrative districts were on red alert. Civil protection teams and fire departments are on site.
Cyclones often form over the Bay of Bengal between April and November, causing major destruction and flooding in India's coastal areas. At least 128 people lost their lives in a cyclone in 2020; a year later, around 150 people died in a similar storm.
