NEW DELHI: Indian authorities have shut schools and evacuated tens of thousands of people from low-lying coastal areas as the country’s eastern seaboard braces for the impact of Cyclone Montha later Tuesday. Swirling over the Bay of Bengal, Montha has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, and is expected to make a landfall tonight near the port city of Kakinada in southern Andhra Pradesh, the weather office said in its latest bulletin. The storm is currently hovering around 160 kilometers southeast of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

The Hindu LIVE updates on first cyclonic storm in Bay of Bengal; cyclone montha to cross Andhra Pradesh coast on october 28

Officials in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram prepare for Cyclone Montha, implementing measures to minimize damage and ensure public safety.