PM Modi speaks to Andhra CM amid Cyclone Montha alert

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday directed officials to implement precautionary measures in areas that are likely to experience rains and floods due to Cyclone Montha which is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morningPrime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with CM Naidu over the phone to enquire about the cyclone situation Following this IT Minister Nara Lokesh was instructed to coordinate with the Prime Ministerrsquos Office PMO news agency PTI reportedAccording to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department IMD ldquoThe CS Montha at 1130 hrs IST of 27 Oct near lat 128N amp long 846E about 480 km east of Chennai and 530 km SSE of Kakinada is likely to intensify into a SCS and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the eveningnight of 28th October as a SCSrdquoThe CS Montha at 1130hrs IST of 27 Oct near lat 128N amp long 846E about 480km east of Chennai 530km SSE of Kakinada Likely to intensify into a SCS amp to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam amp Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during eveningnight of 28th Octoberhellipmdash India Meteorological Department Indiametdept October 27 2025The CM held a review meeting with officials at the Real Time Governance System RTGS to assess preparedness reported PTI quoting a press release from his officeldquoThe CM ordered advance action in places where rains and floods are likely He told officials to strengthen canal banks to prevent crop lossrdquo an official release statedNaidu also instructed officials to monitor the cyclonersquos movement on an hourly basis PTI reportedUnder the cyclonersquos influence heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the Krishna District for two days starting Monday the release added Heavy rains are also likely in Guntur Bapatla NTR Palnadu and West Godavari districtsThe weather system is forecast to move towards northnorthwest and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on Tuesday evening or night as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 110 kmphMeanwhile the government has deployed one state disaster response force SDRF team each in NTR Tirupati Prakasam Konaseema Anakapalli Rajahmundry Bapatla Annamayya and Eluru districts Three reserve SDRF teams are on standby at their headquarters in Visakhapatnam Kakinada and Tirupati districtsEight National Disaster Response Force NDRF teams have also been stationed across various districts with five more kept on standbyTo support relief operations district collectors have been authorised to withdraw Rs 19 crore for rescue and relief effortsldquoHowever severely impacted districts may draw an additional amount as per requirement even beyond the indicated amount under intimation to the governmentrdquo stated G Sai Prasad special chief secretary disaster management in a government orderHe directed district collectors to prioritise evacuating residents from flooded areas to relief camps and ensuring the supply of drinking water food and milk Prasad also directed them to arrange health checkups at camps maintain sanitation and carry out urgent repairs to roads and irrigation infrastructureIf cyclone shelters are insufficient collectors have been asked to use government schools and colleges as relief camps to accommodate affected residentsWith PTI inputs