Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha, swirling over the Bay of Bengal, forced Visakhapatnam International Airport to cancel all 32 scheduled flights on 28 October, disrupting domestic and limited international services to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Doha. IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet issued advisories allowing free date changes, while South Central Railway pre-emptively halted more than 65 passenger and express trains through coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department warns of landfall near Kakinada late on 29 October with wind speeds up to 110 km/h. State authorities have moved 14,000 residents to relief centres and advised tourists to vacate beach resorts in Visakhapatnam, Gopalpur and Puri. Odisha Tourism has formally asked travellers to postpone trips until 31 October.
For corporates, the storm underscores the importance of dynamic traveller-tracking. Several IT firms operating in Visakhapatnam’s SEZ have activated business-continuity plans, relocating critical staff to Hyderabad via charter buses before highways close. Marine terminals at Gangavaram Port have suspended operations, potentially delaying project cargo destined for Middle-East construction sites.
Airlines expect a phased resumption of services from 30 October, subject to runway inspections. Mobility managers should anticipate knock-on effects: aircraft rotations may cause wider schedule ripples at Mumbai and Delhi hubs during the busy post-Diwali peak.
Risk experts recommend employers reinforce cyclone protocols with assignees on India’s east coast, including helpline numbers and safe-shelter locations, as the Bay of Bengal cyclone season typically extends into early December.
The India Meteorological Department warns of landfall near Kakinada late on 29 October with wind speeds up to 110 km/h. State authorities have moved 14,000 residents to relief centres and advised tourists to vacate beach resorts in Visakhapatnam, Gopalpur and Puri. Odisha Tourism has formally asked travellers to postpone trips until 31 October.
For corporates, the storm underscores the importance of dynamic traveller-tracking. Several IT firms operating in Visakhapatnam’s SEZ have activated business-continuity plans, relocating critical staff to Hyderabad via charter buses before highways close. Marine terminals at Gangavaram Port have suspended operations, potentially delaying project cargo destined for Middle-East construction sites.
Airlines expect a phased resumption of services from 30 October, subject to runway inspections. Mobility managers should anticipate knock-on effects: aircraft rotations may cause wider schedule ripples at Mumbai and Delhi hubs during the busy post-Diwali peak.
Risk experts recommend employers reinforce cyclone protocols with assignees on India’s east coast, including helpline numbers and safe-shelter locations, as the Bay of Bengal cyclone season typically extends into early December.
