VIJAYAWADA: With Cyclone Montha inching closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to take all necessary measures to prevent loss of life and minimise damage to property and crops.
Reviewing preparedness at the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) centre in the Secretariat on Monday, Naidu stressed the importance of real-time communication, mass evacuation and coordinated relief efforts across all departments.
He instructed officials to release hourly weather bulletins from Tuesday to ensure the public receives timely and accurate updates. He emphasised communication networks must remain uninterrupted during the cyclone, directing officials to deploy satellite phones and mobile towers where necessary. “No one should fall victim to the cyclone. Our goal is to prevent even a single casualty,” Naidu said.
Evacuation efforts are underway in vulnerable coastal areas, with relief camps being readied in 2,707 villages and ward secretariats. Each evacuee will be provided 25 kg of rice and essential supplies. Around 3,211 generators have been stationed across 110 mandals to ensure power backup, while control rooms at district and mandal levels will function round-the-clock to coordinate emergency operations.
Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called to enquire about the cyclone’s impact and assured Central government support. Minister Nara Lokesh has been tasked with coordinating with the Prime Minister’s Office to streamline assistance and communication.
Officials briefed the Chief Minister that the cyclone, located 490 km from Kakinada and moving at 17 kmph, has already triggered rainfall in northern and southern coastal districts. Krishna district is expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall on Tuesday, while Guntur, Bapatla, NTR, Palnadu, and West Godavari are likely to experience significant showers. Fishermen have been brought back to shore, and schools in affected areas have been closed as a precaution.
Departments including Panchayati Raj Engineering, Roads and Buildings, and Electricity have been placed on high alert. NDRF and SDRF teams, along with fire services, are on standby. As many as 851 JCBs and 757 power saws have been readied for post-cyclone restoration work. Mapping of relief resources and personnel is underway for efficient deployment once the storm subsides.
Naidu emphasised post-cyclone sanitation measures to prevent disease outbreaks. Ambulance services (108 and 104) will remain fully operational, particularly for pregnant women and new mothers. Stocks of anti-snake venom and anti-rabies vaccines have been distributed to all primary health centres. The government has also begun distributing tarpaulins to protect harvested crops, while livestock is being shifted to safer locations.
Real-time monitoring of reservoirs and tanks has been ordered, with water levels to be recorded every few hours. He appealed to citizens to stay indoors, follow official advisories, and avoid misinformation.
Ministers N Lokesh and and others attended the meeting.
