By In late October 2025, Cyclone Montha, a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, made landfall along the Andhra coast and carved a path of destruction through large parts of Andhra Pradesh. Between October 27 and 29 the state recorded about 82.3 mm of rainfall — roughly nine times the normal average for that period.
The storm battered 443 mandals in the state, submerged 9,960 houses, displaced 1.11 lakh people and caused three deaths. In response, the state activated massive relief operations including 2,471 rehabilitation centres across 22 districts, which sheltered nearly 1.92 lakh people.
Scale of damage: sectors hit hard
The damage tally spans across agriculture, infrastructure, housing and fisheries, underscoring the broad impact of the cyclone.
- Agriculture & horticulture: The government reported crop losses across 1.61 lakh acres covering paddy, cotton, green-gram and maize. Horticulture crops in 6,250 hectares and mulberry plantations in 17.72 hectares were also impacted.
- Fisheries / aquaculture: Fish ponds covering over 3,063 hectares were damaged.
- Infrastructure: The roads and buildings department recorded damage to 4,794 km of roads and 311 bridges/culverts. The irrigation department noted losses to 3,437 minor and 2,417 major/medium irrigation structures. Additionally, in the power sector there were thousands of electricity poles uprooted and many transformers destroyed.
- Housing & education: The storm damaged or flooded 4,566 houses and affected 1,833 schools.
- Urban & local bodies: 58 urban local bodies reported heavy damage from torrential rainfall, including disruptions in services.
The scale is such that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu described nearly 10 lakh people affected across 3,109 villages in 443 mandals.
Response and relief efforts by the State
Prior to the cyclone’s arrival, the state government and disaster response forces were on alert. The Andhra Pradesh Red Cross Society mobilised volunteers across coastal districts, assisted in evacuations, set up medical relief camps, and reached remote villages.
Post-impact, drone technology played a key role in damage assessment and rescue: over 680 drones were deployed for real-time flood monitoring, coordination and damage mapping. The state also distributed immediate financial relief to affected families: for example, 3.36 lakh families received ₹3,000 each as an immediate relief measure.
These efforts were credited with limiting loss of life despite the heavy damage. The state government emphasised the role of early warnings and proactive evacuation in mitigating the worst outcomes.
The appeal to the Centre: ₹6,384 crore damage and urgent relief package
In its detailed submission to the central government, the Andhra Pradesh government estimated the total damage caused by Cyclone Montha at ₹6,384 crore. The state has formally requested an interim relief package of about ₹901.4 crore to kick-start rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
In discussions with the visiting central delegation (led by Joint Secretary Pasumi Basu of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Dr K Ponnuswamy of the Agriculture Ministry), the state emphasised that speedy central assistance was critical for stabilising vulnerable families and rebuilding infrastructure quickly.
Specifically, the Chief Minister asked for around ₹2,622 crore immediately to restore roads, power infrastructure and other essential services.
Why urgent aid matters: the ripple effects
The need for swift support is not just about repairing physical damage, but also about preventing long-term socio-economic setbacks.
- With agriculture and aquaculture severely impacted, many farmers and fisherfolk face livelihood disruption. The loss of crops and fish ponds could ripple into food security and income loss.
- Infrastructure damage impedes transport, irrigation and power supply — delaying recovery and harming everyday life and economic activity.
- The housing damage means many families remain in uncertain conditions; temporary shelters cannot substitute the stability of permanent homes.
- The state’s earlier emergency relief and evacuation work helped save lives, but the reconstruction phase will require far more resources and coordination.
Challenges ahead and the path to recovery
While the damage estimate is significant, it could go higher as field-level data continues to be collated. The state acknowledged this possibility.
Some of the key challenges:
- Coordination across sectors: Given the diversity of damage (agriculture, infrastructure, urban services, fisheries), multiple departments must work together for timely relief and rebuilding.
- Timely fund release: The state’s appeal for immediate funds underscores the urgency; any delay could prolong hardships for affected communities.
- Restoration vs. resilience: Rebuilding must also incorporate stronger resilience measures (e.g., better drainage, cyclone-resistant housing, improved early warning systems) to reduce vulnerability in future events.
- Livelihood revival: Beyond rebuilding physical assets, reviving livelihoods (especially of small farmers and fisherfolk) will be critical for restoring economic normalcy and community dignity.
Concluding remarks
Cyclone Montha has underlined once again how vulnerable coastal and inland districts of Andhra Pradesh are to severe weather events. With estimated losses of ₹6,384 crore, the scale is compelling. The state’s immediate request of about ₹901 crore (and even higher sums for critical infrastructure) is understandable given the broad sweep of damage across agriculture, housing, infrastructure and local services.
The quick mobilisation of relief teams, deployment of drones, and pre-emptive evacuations reflect improved disaster preparedness. But the real test lies ahead: securing the required central support, coordinating reconstruction across sectors, restoring livelihoods and building back better. The coming weeks will show how effectively the state and Centre work together to ensure that the people most affected by Montha move from crisis mode to recovery, with enhanced resilience for the future.
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