Andhra Pradesh safely evacuates 3,465 pregnant and lactating women during cyclone Montha

Andhra Pradesh’s coordinated disaster-management and healthcare network has reported a rare success in the wake of Cyclone Montha. All 3,465 pregnant and lactating women evacuated from vulnerable areas across the State are safe and accounted for, according to official updates from the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) and the Health Department.

The large-scale relocation formed part of the government’s “zero loss of life” mission, a preparedness strategy that places pregnant women, infants, and the elderly at the top of its priority list during extreme-weather emergencies.

Targeted evacuations in high-risk districts

The evacuation drive began two days before landfall, focusing first on coastal and Agency regions identified by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as high-impact zones. In the initial stage, 787 pregnant women were shifted from four coastal districts that lay directly in the cyclone’s path Krishna (240), Eluru (171), Konaseema (150), and East Godavari (142).

In the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district, where roads are often blocked by landslides, 92 women in advanced pregnancy were relocated from 22 mandals to hospitals at Paderu, Chintapalli, and Rampachodavaram. Smaller-scale evacuations were reported from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Parvathipuram-Manyam, where heavy rains caused flooding but not mass displacement.

Health infrastructure and coordination

Across 17 districts, 551 rehabilitation centres were converted into temporary medical camps staffed by doctors, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), ASHA workers, and paramedical teams. Each centre maintained patient registers through the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), enabling officials to track every woman’s status before, during, and after the storm.

According to the Health Department, the strategy was two-fold — move women in their final trimester to safe hospitals and keep others under supervision in community health centres until weather conditions improved. ANMs collected data village-wise and coordinated transportation through 108 ambulances, boats, or government vehicles.

Deliveries during and after the cyclone

District records show that several women gave birth during the cyclone period without complications.

• Krishna District: 17 safe deliveries at Machilipatnam, Avanigadda, and Gudivada government hospitals.

• Eluru District: Eight deliveries in relief centres and hospitals.

• Konaseema: Five women delivered at Amalapuram Area Hospital.

• East Godavari: Three births recorded at Rajahmundry and Kakinada hospitals.

• ASR District: Two childbirths at Paderu Community Health Centre amid heavy rain; both mothers and infants stable.

No maternal or neonatal deaths have been reported anywhere in the State. Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav said in Amaravati that “every pregnant woman identified in cyclone-risk zones received timely medical care. We have achieved zero casualties in this category.”

Post-natal check-ups, nutrition kits, and baby food supplies are being distributed through Anganwadi centres and Women and Child Welfare Department teams. Surveillance will continue for at least ten days post-delivery.

‘Bravery amid the storm’: a social-media account

While the official data highlight systemic preparedness, social media on Tuesday night carried an anecdote that captured public imagination.

A post titled “Bravery amid the storm!” claimed that 108 ambulance pilot Suresh heroically crossed floodwaters in Dumbriguda mandal (Alluri district) to rescue Sakeri Anita, a woman in labour from Uyyalawada village, and took her safely to hospital.

The story spread widely online and was echoed by several users quoting official-style language. However, as of Wednesday morning, the APSDMA, Health Department, and Alluri district collector’s office had not confirmed any rescue by that name. Officials said the description was consistent with other verified rescues during Montha but remains unverified until field confirmation.

A senior disaster-management officer in Amaravati told this newspaper that “many 108 pilots performed similar rescues in flooded tribal areas, but each case must be verified before attribution. The incident in Dumbriguda may well be true, but the names have not appeared in any district bulletin yet.”

Why specific areas were prioritised

State officials explained that evacuation efforts were concentrated on certain districts because of geographical vulnerability rather than selective focus. The coastal delta regions of Krishna, Eluru, Konaseema, and East Godavari faced the greatest risk of storm surge and tidal flooding, while the Agency tracts of ASR district were threatened by landslides and road blockages.

“Our aim was to move people from places most likely to be cut off once the cyclone hit,” said IT Minister Nara Lokesh, who monitored operations from the RTGS control room. “That doesn’t mean other districts were ignored. Medical camps and mobile health teams were active across all 17 affected districts.”

Building on past experience

Officials attribute the efficiency of Montha operations to lessons from previous cyclones Michaung (2023), Gulab (2021) and Titli (2018) which exposed gaps in maternal-health response. Since then, the Health Department has introduced early identification protocols, dedicated ambulance tracking, and cross-training for emergency staff.

The 108 emergency network and district control rooms now maintain updated lists of pregnant women in vulnerable areas, enabling pre-emptive relocation even before evacuation orders are issued.

Post-storm situation

As floodwaters recede, the APSDMA confirmed that no pregnant or lactating woman remains stranded or missing. Relief operations continue with medical teams stationed at rehabilitation centres until road connectivity is restored to all Agency villages.

Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the State would document Montha’s response as a model for future disaster preparedness. “Protecting the most vulnerable citizens is the truest measure of disaster resilience,” he said.

A successful test of preparedness

Independent observers noted that the integration of real-time data, pre-emptive evacuation, and ground-level health coverage prevented casualties even in the hardest-hit mandals. The State’s approach combining technology with grassroots coordination is being hailed as one of the most comprehensive maternal-health interventions carried out during a cyclone in recent years.

While the dramatic Dumbriguda story awaits confirmation, the overall picture emerging from official records is clear: every identified pregnant and lactating woman in Andhra Pradesh survived Cyclone Montha safely, underscoring the State’s growing capability to protect its most vulnerable citizens when nature turns hostile.