Cyclone ‘Mantha’ approaching, alert in 3 Indian states

Cyclone ‘Mantha’ originating in the Bay of Bengal is slowly moving towards the coast. The latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that in the last six hours, ‘Mantha’ has been moving towards the land along the southwest and adjacent west-central and southeast Bay of Bengal at a speed of 17 kmph. The IMD bulletin said that Mantha will hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh in southern India between Kakinada and Kalingapatnam on Tuesday (October 28) evening.
The latest bulletin of the IMD said that it will intensify into an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’ by this morning. After this evening, it will hit the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam coasts near Kakinada. During this time, the maximum wind speed in the area will be 90 to 100 kmph. Wind speeds can reach 110 km per hour.
Two southern states of India, Tamil Nadu, Andhra and the eastern state of Odisha have already been put on alert. People have been evacuated from the coast. Schools will remain closed in all three states today. Several trains have been cancelled.
The IMD has predicted heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh today and next Wednesday. Therefore, a strict alert has been issued in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on the phone yesterday Monday. Schools in Anakapalle district of the state have been closed till next Wednesday. A helpline number has been activated to help people, a control room has been opened. Chief Minister Chandrababu is monitoring the situation. Thunderstorms have already started on the Tamil Nadu coast. A heavy rain alert has been issued in the capital Chennai. State Chief Minister MK Stalin said that his administration is ready to deal with all kinds of situations. Heavy rain alerts have also been issued in several districts of Telangana including Peddapalli, Adilabad. Heavy rains are likely in coastal Karnataka’s Udupi, Uttara and Dakshina Kannada districts. The Southern and Central branches of the Central Railway have cancelled several trains. Several trains have been cancelled in Andhra’s Visakhapatnam district. IndiGo Airlines has issued an alert that services may be disrupted.
Heavy rains have started in Odisha’s Gajapati district since last Monday night. Rains have also started in coastal districts of Odisha. Rescue teams have been deployed in eight districts. People in coastal areas are being warned to move to safer places.