Post by : Rameen Ariff

Visakhapatnam, India – Air travel in Andhra Pradesh came to a complete halt on Tuesday as all 32 flights operating from Visakhapatnam Airport were cancelled due to the approaching Cyclone Montha, which is expected to make landfall along the Andhra coast later in the day. The Cyclone Montha impact has led to widespread travel disruptions across air, rail, and road networks, with authorities prioritizing public safety amid worsening weather conditions.

Visakhapatnam Airport Director N. Purushottam confirmed that operations had been fully suspended following the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) cyclone safety protocol. “We usually handle 30 to 32 flight movements daily, both domestic and international. Today, all those flights have been cancelled,” Purushottam told PTI.

He added that two Air India Express flights had already been cancelled on Monday, October 27, as a precautionary measure. “Apart from those, all flights operated as per schedule yesterday, but today, due to the severity of Cyclone Montha, all movements have been stopped,” he said.

The Visakhapatnam Airport has implemented extensive safety measures, including securing aircraft, ground equipment, and terminal infrastructure, in line with AAI’s pre- and post-cyclone guidelines. Emergency response teams remain on standby, and passengers have been advised to check directly with airlines for rescheduling updates once conditions improve.

In Vijayawada, the airport also faced major disruptions as 16 flights were cancelled on Tuesday, though five were able to operate before weather conditions worsened. Airport Director Lakshmikanth Reddy said, “Yesterday, there was only one flight cancellation to Vizag, but today, 16 flights to various destinations including Delhi and Mumbai have been called off. Airlines are expected to review the situation by evening before resuming services tomorrow.”

Similarly, Tirupati Airport reported four flight cancellations on Tuesday, with airlines citing passenger safety as the top priority amid unpredictable weather patterns caused by Cyclone Montha.

The South Central Railway (SCR) Zone also announced massive cancellations, with over 120 train services suspended across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states since Monday evening. Authorities said additional trains could be affected depending on the landfall and wind conditions in the coming hours.

The Cyclone Montha disruption has left thousands of travellers stranded, with local hotels and transport services reporting increased demand. Meteorologists have warned that strong winds, heavy rainfall, and possible coastal flooding may continue for the next 24 hours, particularly along the Visakhapatnam and Kakinada stretches.

Emergency teams and disaster management units are on high alert as Cyclone Montha continues to intensify over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast wind speeds of up to 110 kmph during landfall and urged residents in coastal regions to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Authorities have assured that all safety measures are being strictly followed and that flight operations will resume only after clearance from weather and aviation officials once Cyclone Montha weakens.

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