The devastating cyclonic storm Montha has put travel plans completely out of track as it moves towards The Andhra Pradesh coast, forcing authorities to cancel more than 65 trains as well as ground all flights departing from airports of major cities. It’s one of the largest disruptions to travel of the year, as railway authorities put security of passengers over schedules. It is reported that the South Central Railway and East Coast Railway have cancelled train services across the coastal Andhra routes on the 28th and 29th of October, impacting thousands of passengers who scheduled journeys planned for this time.
The aviation sector has stopped completely on both Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada airports, with IndiGo along with Air India Express cancelling all scheduled flights. In addition, the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange-colored warning in the event that Cyclone Montha grows into a serious cyclonic storm, with winds of 90-100 kmph, and a speed that can reach upwards of 110 kmph. The storm is expected arrive in the area between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam close to Kakinada before Monday night the 28th of October. It will bring severe rainfall and potentially dangerous conditions across the entire coastline.
Cyclone Montha Brings Massive Travel Chaos Overview
| Aspect | Details |
| Train Cancellations | More than 65 trains were cancelled due to SCR and ECoR |
| Flight Cancellations | All IndiGo and Air India Express flights departing from Vizag and Vijayawada |
| Landfall Date | October 28, 2025 (evening/night) |
| Landfall Location | Between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam close to Kakinada |
| Wind Speed | 90-100 km/h, accelerating up to 110 km/h |
| Storm Category | Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) |
| Affected States | Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana |
| Evacuation Numbers | More than 50,000 people are relocated into camps for refugees |
| Alert Level | Orange alert issued via IMD to Andhra coast |
| Current Location | The distance is 440 km east of Chennai 490 km south of Kakinada |
| Official Website | https://mausam.imd.gov.in/ |
Railway Services Hit Hard
Indian Railways has taken unprecedented actions by removing more than 65 railways as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the coast. Its South Central Railway announced cancellations that affect key routes in the Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, and Bhimavaram sectors between Oct. 28-29. In addition, the East Coast Railway separately cancelled 43 trains that were passing through Visakhapatnam and the other coastal regions.
Railway officials stressed that safety of passengers remains their primary concern during the current emergency. The cancellations concern express and passenger trains scheduled to run in the affected areas of cyclones. Passengers who have tickets confirmed for the dates mentioned are advised to delay their travel plans if they are not necessary.
The decision impacts thousands of people who planned to travel during the Diwali celebrations. Railway officials are monitoring this situation, and they will resume routine service when conditions improve and the tracks are declared safe to travel on.
Flight Operations Completely Suspended
Aviation services are completely interrupted with major airlines reserving flights to affected airports. Visakhapatnam Airport has cancelled all IndiGo and Air India Express flights scheduled for the 28th of October due to extreme weather conditions. Similar to that, Vijayawada Airport has grounded all Air India Express operations including international and domestic routes.
The cancelled flights include popular routes such as Vijayawada-Hyderabad, Vijayawada-Bangalore, Vijayawada-Sharjah, and several connections through Visakhapatnam. IndiGo has issued an warning to passengers to verify flight status on their website prior to traveling to airports, and warns of the possibility of flooding and traffic jams in the affected areas.
Passengers can avail various options for rebooking and refunds on airline websites. Safety is the top priority for aviation authorities over schedules, and airports are expected to remain closed until the wind speed drops to levels that are not dangerous.
Cyclone Montha Track and Intensity
Cyclone Montha was formed as a large depression in the Southeast Bay of Bengal on October 26. Since then, it has been growing as it progresses towards an Indian coast. According to the India Meteorological Department reports the storm is currently approximately 440 km to the east of Chennai as well as 490 kilometers to the southeast of Kakinada in the north-northwest direction, with speeds of 17 km/h.
The cyclone is predicted to intensify into a major cyclonic storm on Monday morning, October 28 before it makes the landfalls somewhere between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada in the evening or late into the night. The forecast for wind speeds is to be between 90 and 100 kmph, with dangerous gusts reaching 110 kmph in the event of the landfall.
The sea conditions have already become extremely difficult throughout the Bay of Bengal, with waves predicted to rise to the height of 6 meters in that landfall area. The troughs of moisture will continue to bring heavy rain into Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha until October 30.
Evacuation and Safety Measures
Authorities have begun massive evacuation efforts, transferring more than 50,000 residents from coastal zones to relief camps or more secure locations. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed immediate evacuation of those living in vulnerable coastal zones, stressing no tolerance for the death.
Emergency response teams are deployed throughout affected districts, with the holidays cancelled for all emergency personnel. Colleges and schools were placed in a state of closure in the coastal regions in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as an emergency measure.
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority states that the districts along the coast are seeing heavy rains and powerful gales as the outer bands of the storm extend to the shoreline. Fishing has been stopped and fishermen are instructed to return to shore as soon as possible.
Economic Impact and Infrastructure
The cyclone has caused significant economic disruption that goes beyond transport. The major ports on the coastline are suspending operations, which has affected cargo movements and trade. The hurricane is threatening agricultural areas that are essential to the economy of the region as standing crops are susceptible to flooding and wind damage.
Electricity companies are gearing up for widespread outages, and have emergency personnel ready to restore power when the storm is over. The networks of communication are being strengthened to ensure connectivity both during and following the passage of the cyclone.
Local businesses, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, are preparing for losses since the storm is scheduled to hit with the bustling Diwali celebration, during which the activities of shopping and travel typically increase.
Cyclone Montha is a major natural catastrophe that has caused unprecedented disruption to transportation systems throughout eastern India. With more than 65 trains being shut down and a complete shutdown of flights and travel, the impact of the storm extends well beyond the realm of weather to impact thousands of travelers and the local economy. The coordinated response of railway officials, airlines and government agencies proves the importance of prioritizing safety for humans over the convenience of operations. When the cyclone hits land close to Kakinada on the 28th of October, with potentially dangerous winds and heavy rain and heavy rain, the primary concern is making sure there are no casualties by implementing an efficient evacuation process and emergency preparedness. Residents and tourists should continue following official information by the India Meteorological Department and follow the safety advice until the storm has completely passed and normal operation can return.
FAQ’s
1. Why are flights and trains being cancelled?
Due to Cyclone Montha’s powerful storms and rain, nearly 65 trains and all the flights departing from Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada have been cancelled to ensure the safety of passengers.
2. How long before Cyclone Montha arrive at the coast?
The cyclone is predicted to arrive close to Kakinada within Machilipatnam between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on the 28th of October 2025. Wind speeds as high as 110 kmph.
3. What safety measures are implemented?
Authorities have evacuated 50k people, closed schools and set up emergency teams in order to guarantee security on the Andhra coast.
Hi, I’m Harikesh, a content writer at cgncollege.com. I write engaging and informative articles covering the latest news, India, and global updates. My goal is to keep readers informed with accurate and insightful stories from around the world.
