by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported this week that Cyclone Montha has intensified over the southwest Bay of Bengal and is projected to move northwest towards the east coast of India.

Forecasts further expect that Montha will become a severe cyclone by Tuesday morning, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall within 24 hours across the north coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and all coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Heavy rainfall is also forecast for the Gangetic West Bengal, Sikkim, and Bihar.

According to the media, the Indian Army has been placed on high alert in response to the threat posed by Cyclone Montha to coastal regions.

In addition, the IMD has issued an advisory warning of dangerous weather conditions, including wind speeds up to 120 kilometres per hour and rough seas.

Coastal and low-lying areas face a significant risk of flooding, while inland regions may experience widespread disruptions, such as power outages and fallen trees.

The ports in the effected regions, including Chennai, Ennore, Krishnapatnam and Visakhapatnam, are expected to restrict operations during the storm.

For the latest port and vessel statuses or situation updates, please refer to the seaexplorer alert map.