Cyclone Montha has triggered heavy rainfall across Odisha, with the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack witnessing continuous downpours since early Tuesday morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the system has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal, likely to bring widespread rain and gusty winds over the next few days.
Twin Cities Reel Under Heavy Rain
Rain began around 8 a.m. and continued intermittently throughout the morning, disrupting traffic movement and daily activities in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Commuters faced severe waterlogging in several low-lying areas, while pedestrians sought shelter as gusty winds accompanied the rainfall.
“The rainfall has been consistent since morning, and major roads are waterlogged, causing long traffic jams,” a local resident reported.
Cyclone Montha Intensifies Over Bay of Bengal
According to the IMD, Cyclone Montha has strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada by Tuesday evening or night. Wind speeds may reach 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph, as the system approaches the Andhra-Odisha coastline.
IMD Weather Forecast for Odisha
The IMD has issued Red, Orange, and Yellow warnings for various districts across Odisha.
Here’s a district-wise breakdown:
Day 1 (Valid till 8:30 a.m. of Oct 29)
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Red Warning: Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam (Heavy to very heavy rainfall, isolated extremely heavy spells >20 cm)
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Orange Warning: Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khordha, Puri
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Yellow Warning: Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj
Day 2 (Oct 29–30)
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Red Warning: Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada
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Yellow Alert: Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Ganjam (Moderate to heavy rain)
Day 3 (Oct 30–31)
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Yellow Warning: Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj
Rainfall to Continue Till November 1
The IMD forecasts light to moderate rain or thundershowers across most districts of Odisha till November 1, with the southern and coastal belts experiencing the most intense rainfall. Northern and interior districts will see intermittent showers accompanied by strong winds.
Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official advisories as the cyclone continues to move north-northwestward.
