NewzVille Desk
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall today over Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
IMD has also forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall over Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Telangana today.
Heavy rains and strong winds are already pounding Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, East Godavari, Konaseema, Kakinada, Krishna, Nellore, and Prakasam districts. Wind speeds of 90-110 km per hour are expected, with very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall likely across the coastal belt.
Schools and colleges have been closed, and most shops, except for essential services, remain shut. Several train and flight services have been cancelled. Fishermen have been warned to stay away from the sea.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation and ordered full preparedness. Over 35,000 people have been shifted to relief camps stocked with essentials.
NDRF, SDRF, and special teams are on standby for rescue operations. A public announcement system across 26 districts is issuing real-time alerts to the public. Andhra Pradesh remains on high alert as Montha nears landfall tonight.
Parts of Coastal Karnataka, East Rajasthan, Gangetic West Bengal, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka and Vidarbha are also expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall during the day.
The weather agency predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, West Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, and Rajasthan till the 30th of this month.
