NDRF teams lead cyclone restoration across Andhra Pradesh

Restoration and relief operations were intensified across coastal Andhra Pradesh after Cyclone Montha weakened into a depression. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in several affected districts to clear roads, remove fallen trees, and restore connectivity disrupted by the storm.

Fallen trees that had blocked the Machilipatnam–Manginapudi road were removed by NDRF personnel, allowing traffic movement to resume. Similar operations were reported in Nizampatnam–Repalle, Anakapalli, Bapatla, Konaseema, and East Godavari districts, where restoration work was carried out under the coordination of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA).

The Information and Public Relations Department (I&PR) of Andhra Pradesh confirmed that emergency teams worked continuously through the night to reopen key routes and provide assistance to affected residents. Visuals released by the department showed NDRF members clearing uprooted trees and debris using power equipment to restore access roads and drainage channels.

According to official data, the 10th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force, headquartered at Mangalagiri in Guntur district, had been assigned cyclone response duties in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The battalion, comprising nearly 1,200 trained personnel, had pre-positioned multiple teams across the coast ahead of landfall. Each unit, consisting of around 30 to 35 members, was equipped for flood rescue, collapsed structure recovery, and medical first aid operations.

District authorities stated that the deployment of NDRF units before the cyclone’s landfall enabled swift post-storm restoration. Major roads that were blocked by fallen trees and debris were cleared within hours, ensuring the movement of relief materials and emergency services.

Continuous monitoring of affected areas was said to be in progress, with additional teams placed on standby at Mangalagiri to respond to any further distress calls. Officials added that full restoration of normal life in the cyclone-hit districts would remain the immediate priority.