Bhubaneswar: With Cyclone Montha intensifying in the Bay of Bengal and expected to make landfall near the Andhra Pradesh coast, the Odisha Government and the South Central Railway (SCR) have taken extensive precautionary measures, including the closure of schools and cancellation of 72 trains, to ensure public safety.

Odisha Orders Three-Day School Closure

The Odisha Government’s School and Mass Education Department on Monday announced the closure of all government, government-aided, and private schools in eight southern districts — Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur — from October 28 to 30.

The decision, announced by Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Thirumala Naik, aims to safeguard students and staff from heavy rainfall and strong winds expected under the cyclone’s influence.

Teachers and school staff may be deployed for relief and cyclone management duties, and District Education Officers (DEOs) have been appointed as Nodal Officers to coordinate with district administrations. All employee leaves have been cancelled until further notice, and school buildings may be used as temporary shelters if necessary.

Officials have been directed to switch off electrical power in all school buildings and report any damages post-cyclone. The PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) rice stock may be utilised for relief efforts, with reimbursement to follow from the Special Relief Commissioner’s office.

The department has set up 24-hour control rooms at both state and district levels to monitor the situation and coordinate immediate response efforts.

South Central Railway Cancels 72 Trains Across Andhra Region

Meanwhile, the South Central Railway (SCR) on Monday announced the cancellation of 72 trains scheduled for October 28 and 29 as Cyclone Montha is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kakinada around Tuesday evening as a severe cyclonic storm.

The cancellations include major routes such as Vijayawada-Bhimavaram, Vijayawada-Kakinada Port, Machilipatnam-Vijayawada, Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam, Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam, Tirupati-Visakhapatnam, and others. The East Coast Railway has also cancelled 43 trains in view of the cyclone.

SCR General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava visited Vijayawada to review preparedness and directed officials to be on high alert. Control rooms have been set up at both divisional and headquarters levels, operating round-the-clock to monitor train operations, bridge conditions, and vulnerable areas.

Satya Prakash, Additional General Manager, chaired a preparedness meeting with key departmental heads, instructing the setup of a war room and deployment of patrolling teams to monitor tracks and bridges. Diesel locomotives, mobile rescue teams (MRTs), and monsoon reserves have been strategically positioned for emergency response.

Passenger convenience remains a top priority, with adequate food, water, and medical teams stationed at key points. Help desks and 24×7 refund counters have been established at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kakinada Town, Bhimavaram, and Tenali.

The SCR is maintaining close coordination with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) for real-time updates and joint action.

Cyclone Preparedness in Full Force

Authorities across Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid non-essential travel during the cyclone period. Both state and central agencies have activated emergency control rooms, rescue teams, and coordination mechanisms to minimise damage and ensure rapid relief once the cyclone passes.

In an official order issued by N. Thirumala Naik, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the department, all government, government-aided, and private schools in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur will remain closed for three days as a precautionary measure.

Teachers May Be Deployed for Relief Work
The letter further stated that district administrations may deploy teachers and school staff for cyclone management and relief operations wherever required. District Education Officers (DEOs) have been designated as Nodal Officers to coordinate with district authorities for all cyclone-related measures.

Additionally, the department has cancelled all leaves of employees working in the affected districts until further notice. School buildings may also be used as temporary shelters by local administrations if needed.

Safety and Control Measures in Place
The department has directed DEOs to maintain continuous coordination with state-level directors and ensure all safety protocols are followed. Officials have been instructed to switch off electrical power supply in classrooms and school buildings to avoid accidents.

After the cyclone passes, school authorities must assess any damage to infrastructure and report it to the DEO, who will then forward reports to the District Collector and departmental directors.

Mid-Day Meal Resources to Aid Relief Operations
The department also permitted the use of PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) rice stocks for relief operations, if necessary. The Special Relief Commissioner’s office will later reimburse any rice used for such emergency purposes.

24-Hour Control Rooms Activated
All directorates under the department have been instructed to operate 24-hour control rooms and maintain close contact with DEOs. A state-level control room has also been set up at the School and Mass Education Department headquarters.

The department has called upon all officials and field staff to remain vigilant and prepared at the district level to ensure effective implementation of safety, rescue, and relief measures during and after the cyclone.