Severe cyclonic storm Montha, which has intensified over the southwest-central Bay of Bengal, is moving at a speed of 18 kmph, and is currently centred 520 km from Chennai, 570 km from Kakinada, and 600 km from Visakhapatnam, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has said.

On Monday morning, Kakinada and other coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh witnessed rainfall ahead of the cyclone’s arrival.

Moving west-northwestwards, Cyclone Montha is likely to further intensify by Tuesday morning and cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh near Kakinada by Tuesday night with strong winds of 90-110 kmph.

The state government has deployed nine State Disaster Response Force and seven National Disaster Response Force teams in several districts for potential relief operations. Preg

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