Cyclone Montha Hits Andhra Pradesh Coast

Amaravati, October 2025 – Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha made landfall off the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2025, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and widespread disruption. The storm caused two deaths, inundated roads, and uprooted trees across several districts of the state.

Impact Overview

• Casualties: 2 people reported dead.
• Infrastructure Damage: Roads flooded, trees uprooted, power lines damaged in coastal areas.
• Response: Local authorities and disaster management teams were deployed to restore connectivity and essential services.

About Cyclone Montha

• Name Meaning: “Montha” means beautiful or fragrant flower — a name contributed by Thailand.
• Nature of Cyclones:
  • According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), multiple cyclones can exist simultaneously in different parts of the world.
  • Each tropical storm is given a unique name to avoid confusion and improve public awareness and disaster management.

Naming of Cyclones

• Global Framework:
  • There are six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) and five Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres worldwide responsible for naming and issuing advisories.
• India’s Role:
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is one of the six RSMCs, mandated to provide tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under the WMO/ESCAP Panel.
  • Member countries include: Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen.
• Naming Convention:
  • Names are used in rotation and retired once used.
  • Modern naming follows gender-neutral and culturally sensitive principles, limited to eight letters.