The cyclone battered coastal districts, damaging crops worth Rs 829 crore and inundating farms, homes, and roads across the state

Cyclone Montha has left a trail of destruction across Andhra Pradesh, causing estimated losses of Rs 5,265 crore, including around Rs 829 crore in damage to standing crops, as per media reports. The severe cyclone battered the state’s coastal districts earlier this week, inundating farms, homes, and roads.

The storm crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts near Narsapuram late on October 28, with wind speeds reaching 90 kmph along the Machilipatnam coast. It gradually weakened into a deep depression by the morning of October 29, moving inland and bringing widespread rainfall to several districts.

Authorities said the cyclone’s impact was particularly severe on agriculture, with thousands of hectares of crops damaged or destroyed. Preliminary assessments indicate losses to paddy, pulses, and horticultural crops across the Godavari and Krishna delta regions.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that a comprehensive report on the damage is being prepared for submission to the central government. He confirmed that timely evacuation efforts had minimised casualties, though some reports indicated three deaths and over a hundred cattle lost in separate incidents.

Visuals from affected areas showed residents wading through flooded streets carrying salvaged belongings, while rescue teams worked to move people from low-lying zones to safer ground. Flooding was also reported in parts of neighbouring Telangana, where heavy rain continued through October 30.

According to the latest weather updates, Cyclone Montha has weakened into a low-pressure area over central Chhattisgarh and is expected to dissipate further within a day. Meanwhile, another depression over the east central Arabian Sea is moving slowly northwards.

Cyclones routinely strike India’s eastern coast between April and December, and Montha’s devastation has renewed calls for stronger infrastructure and climate resilience measures in vulnerable coastal districts.