The deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, which is set to intensify into Cyclone Montha, has slowed its movement and slightly altered its track,
according to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday morning.
In an earlier IMD bulletin, the agency reported that the system — then moving west-northwestwards at about 10 kmph — was centred near latitude 11.1°N and longitude 87.2°E, approximately 610 km west of Port Blair, 790 km east-southeast of Chennai, and 950 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.
In its updated bulletin, the IMD said the storm had slowed to 6 kmph and was centred near 11.2°N, 87.1°E, about 620 km west of Port Blair and 830 km south-southeast of Kakinada.
The forecast remains for the system to intensify into a cyclonic storm in 24 hours and a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28, with landfall during the evening or night of the same day, carrying winds of 90–100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.
The landfall is expected between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada.
The cyclone has been named Montha by Thailand, meaning “fragrant flower” or “beautiful flower” in Thai.
Authorities in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and neighboring states have intensified disaster readiness. In Odisha, the Special Relief Commissioner’s office has placed Gopalpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri districts on high alert.
Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore, relief camps are being readied, and evacuation routes reviewed. Indian Coast Guard personnel also reached out to fishermen at sea, asking them to return to the shores amid possibility of a cyclone developing over southeast Bay of Bengal.
The Andhra Pradesh Coastal Disaster Management Authority has issued advisories for Kakinada, East Godavari, Krishna, and Guntur districts. Ports along the east coast are monitoring conditions closely and may suspend operations if wind speeds rise. Shipping traffic is also being closely tracked.
Energy companies operating offshore assets in the Bay of Bengal are monitoring the storm to preempt disruptions in marine logistics and supply chains.
Separate system over Arabian Sea
A depression over the east-central Arabian Sea has shifted southwestwards at about 13 kmph, centred near 16.0°N, 66.5°E, roughly 760 km west-southwest of Mumbai.
This effectively means that the Arabian Sea depression has changed direction, and is now tracking southwestward and away from India.
The IMD does not expect significant intensification, but the system continues to be monitored.
