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The South Central Railway (SCR) has announced the cancellation of 72 train services as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is expected to cross the coastline between Machilipatnam and Kakinada on the evening of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and possible disruption to transport and power lines.

The IMD has warned of intense rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and parts of Odisha from October 27 to 29. The SCR said the cancellations, covering major routes such as Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kakinada Port, Guntur, Tenali, Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam are being implemented as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.

Train services cancelled include Vijayawada-Bhimavaram, Nidadavolu-Bhimavaram, Vijayawada-Kakinada Port, Kakinada Port-Rajahmundry, Guntur-Vijayawada, Vijayawada-Tenali, Repalle-Markapur Road, Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam, Chennai Central-Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam, and Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam, among others.

The East Coast Railway has also announced the cancellation of 43 trains passing through Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. Passengers have been advised to travel only if necessary and to verify train statuses through official railway platforms.

SCR General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava reviewed preparedness measures at Vijayawada on Monday. He instructed officials to remain on alert and ensure that safety protocols are strictly followed across all departments - engineering, electrical, mechanical, commercial and medical.

Control rooms have been set up at both divisional and headquarters levels, staffed round the clock by officers and supervisors to monitor train operations, bridge safety and water levels at vulnerable points. Patrolling teams have been deployed to monitor tracks and key bridges, while diesel locomotives and mobile rescue teams have been stationed strategically to maintain continuity of operations in case of traction failures.

The SCR has prioritised passenger safety and service continuity. Help Desks and 24x7 PRS refund counters have been set up at major stations including Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kakinada Town, Bhimavaram and Tenali. Additional food and water supplies have been arranged at catering units and stations, while medical teams, ambulances and first-aid centres remain on standby.

At the South Central Railway headquarters in Rail Nilayam, Additional General Manager Satya Prakash chaired a preparedness meeting with senior officials. He directed the establishment of a war room to track the cyclone’s impact in real time and coordinate zonal and divisional responses.

Close coordination is being maintained with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) for timely updates and joint response mechanisms.

Railway authorities have urged passengers to avoid non-essential travel between October 27 and 29 and to keep track of updates through official railway communication channels.

According to IMD projections, Cyclone Montha is likely to weaken gradually after crossing the coast, but its impact could still bring widespread rainfall and strong winds across several districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Ankit Kumar is a Senior Sub Editor at Zee Business. He covers international affairs, politics, climate change, business, finance and global elections. With experience acros