Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha

The severe cyclonic storm (SCS) Montha has made landfall off the Andhra Pradesh coast, with the process expected to last for three to four hours, as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Impact and Response

• Heavy rainfall has affected coastal and southern districts of Odisha, triggering landslides, damaging houses, and uprooting trees.
• Authorities have responded by canceling 35 flights across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the East Coast Railways has canceled approximately 43 trains.
• Thousands of residents have been relocated to safer areas to mitigate risk.

Causes of Increased Cyclonic Activity

• Experts attribute the rise in cyclonic storms to climate change.
• Significant factors include oceanic-atmospheric phenomena such as El Niño, Indian Ocean Dipole, and Madden-Julian Oscillation.

Vulnerability of Affected Regions

• A report by Climate Trends highlights that approximately 2.9 million people in Andhra Pradesh are vulnerable to cyclones due to their proximity to the coastline.
• About 3.3 million people reside within 5 kilometers of the coastline, increasing the risk.
• Coastal Tamil Nadu is also identified as cyclone-prone.

Understanding Cyclones

Abinash Mohanty from IPE Global explains that cyclones are intensified depressions, a natural phenomenon essential for the monsoon cycles. However, climate change is causing these depressions to more frequently develop into full-fledged cyclonic storms.