Konaseema, Oct 28.: As Cyclone Montha intensifies over the Bay of Bengal and moves closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast, residents of Konaseema are once again gripped by fear and anxiety. For many, this brings back painful memories of the 1996 Konaseema cyclone, one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the region. The mention of a severe storm immediately reminds the locals of the destruction that swept through their lives nearly three decades ago.
The 1996 cyclone made landfall between Kakinada and Yanam on November 6, 1996, around 9:30 p.m. (IST). Classified as a “super cyclone,” it unleashed winds blowing at nearly 215 kilometers per hour, tearing through homes, trees, and power lines across the Konaseema region. The storm surge from the sea brought massive tidal waves that flooded entire coastal belts, leaving thousands of families stranded without shelter, food, or communication.
Coastal mandals like Katrenikona, Uppalaguptam, and Allavaram bore the brunt of the 1996 cyclone. The sea waves rose dramatically, inundating fishing villages and washing away boats and huts. In Katrenikona mandal, the villages of Bhairavapalem and Balusutippa were completely destroyed, leaving behind little trace of their existence. Locals still recall how, in a matter of hours, the once lush green region turned into a landscape of debris and silence.
Survivors of the 1996 cyclone recall it as a night of terror. The winds howled relentlessly, roofs were blown away, and people clung to trees and poles for their lives. Elderly residents of the region still recount how the storm cut off all access to nearby towns for days, making rescue and relief operations extremely difficult. The loss of life and property was immense, and recovery took several years.
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Now, as Cyclone Montha approaches, those memories have resurfaced with alarming clarity. People in Konaseema say that the cloudy skies, rough seas, and constant weather alerts remind them of the days leading up to the 1996 cyclone. “We still remember how the wind screamed through our homes that night,” says an elderly fisherman from Uppalaguptam. “When we hear the word cyclone now, it feels like history is repeating itself.”
In response, authorities have strengthened disaster management efforts across coastal Andhra. The State Disaster Response Force has been deployed, fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea, and low-lying areas are being evacuated. While officials assure that modern technology and improved forecasting systems will help mitigate damage, the people of Konaseema remain anxious. For them, every gust of wind and distant thunder serves as a chilling reminder of the 1996 cyclone that changed their lives forever.
