Amaravati: With Cyclone Montha intensifying over the west-central Bay of Bengal and bringing widespread rainfall, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has issued key directives to ensure public safety. The authority has imposed restrictions on vehicular movement in cyclone-affected districts, ordering that heavy vehicles on national highways must halt operations from 7 p.m. onwards. Drivers have been instructed to park their vehicles in safe locations, while citizens have been urged to avoid travel unless absolutely essential.
According to APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain, Cyclone Montha has been moving at a speed of 15 km per hour during the past six hours. The system is currently positioned around 60 km from Machilipatnam, 140 km from Kakinada, and 240 km from Visakhapatnam. Authorities are closely monitoring its trajectory as it continues to move closer to the Andhra coast.
The state administration has stepped up precautionary measures, deploying disaster response teams and alerting district officials to remain on standby. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and control rooms have been set up in coastal districts to handle emergencies. High danger signals have also been issued at key ports as the cyclone edges nearer to the shoreline.
