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Cyclone Montha, swirling over the Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday morning, October 28, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone is expected to bring widespread rainfall, gusty winds, and rough sea conditions across the eastern coast, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and parts of West Bengal.Cyclone Montha’s Current Position and MovementAs of 5.30 am on Monday, the weather system was located over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, moving northwestwards at 15 kmph.The IMD said the cyclone lay centred at latitude 12.2°N and longitude 85.3°E, approximately:560 km east-southeast of Chennai,620 km south-southeast of Kakinada,650 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam,790 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha), and810 km west of Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).Read more: Cyclone Montha: How did the storm get its name and what does it mean?Rainfall Predicted in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and BengalThe IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in several states as the cyclone advances northwards:Andhra Pradesh: Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Nellore districts.Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, and Parvatipuram Manyam may also experience intense rain and strong winds reaching up to 110 kmph near the coast.Tamil Nadu: Coastal districts such as Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Thoothukudi are expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall, with thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph.Odisha: Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Gopalpur regions are likely to experience heavy rain and squally winds from Monday night as the cyclone moves north-northwestwards.West Bengal: South coastal districts, particularly Kolkata, East Midnapore, and South 24 Parganas, could witness light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy showers by October 29 as the storm’s outer bands spread northwards.IMD Warning: Cyclone to Cross Andhra Coast by October 28 EveningCyclone Montha is likely to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, on Monday evening or night, as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained winds of 100–110 kmph.Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea, as conditions over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal are expected to be very rough to high.Authorities Urge Caution Across Coastal StatesThe Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) and district administrations in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and West Bengal have issued advisories urging residents to stay indoors, avoid coastal areas, and follow official weather alerts.Disaster response teams have been deployed in vulnerable coastal regions, and local administrations are preparing for possible power outages, waterlogging, and strong wind damage.What’s Next for Cyclone Montha?The cyclone is expected to weaken gradually after landfall but may continue to bring rainfall to interior regions of Odisha, Jharkhand, and southern Bengal on October 29–30.The IMD will issue updated warnings every few hours as the system progresses.Train Services Cancelled as Precautionary MeasureIn view of the imminent cyclone and in the interest of passenger safety, the South Central Railway (SCR) has announced the cancellation of several train services operating in the affected regions.According to the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of South Central Railway, a few trains have been cancelled or rescheduled due to expected heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the possibility of track obstructions.Railway officials said restoration efforts would be taken up immediately once weather conditions improve.Passengers are advised to check the latest train status through official Indian Railways channels, such as NTES (National Train Enquiry System) or the IRCTC website and app, before commencing travel.Flights Likely to Face Delays or CancellationsSeveral airlines are expected to face flight delays and possible cancellations on October 28 and 29 as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the east coast. The extent of disruption will depend on the cyclone’s trajectory and its impact on wind speed and visibility.Airport authorities have been directed to closely monitor weather conditions and suspend operations temporarily if passenger safety is at risk. Travellers are strongly advised to reconfirm their flight schedules before leaving for the airport and to follow official airline websites and social media handles for real-time updates.Authorities Urge Public to Avoid TravelThe Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) and other coastal administrations have urged the public to avoid non-essential travel until the weather stabilises.Emergency helplines have been activated, and disaster response teams are on standby across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha to handle any disruptions caused by the storm.Inputs from agencies

Mumbai: India's stock indices notched up gains on Monday as easing trade tensions between the US and China boosted investor sentiment across the region. Investors now await the US Federal Reserve's rate decision on Wednesday to decide on the market direction. The NSE Nifty finished at 25,966, up 0.7% or 170 points. The BSE Sensex ended at 84,778, 0.7% or 566 points higher. Both indices are around 1% away from their record closing levels hit in late September last year. "The US China treaty sparked investor optimism as the finalisation of the same would imply certainty in global markets that has been lacking," said Pranay Aggarwal, director and CEO of Stoxkart. Aggarwal said the rally is likely to sustain as Nifty is expected to move towards 26,500 in the near term, especially once the US India trade deal is announced in November.124861109 Most Asian markets ended higher on Monday. At home, the Nifty PSU Bank Index climbed 2.2% on Monday, while Bank Nifty rose 0.7%. Nifty Realty and oil & gas indices gained 1.5% each. Nifty Metals index advanced 1.2%. Grasim Industries and SBI Life Insurance Company were among the top gainers in the Nifty pack and jumped 3.2% each. Bharti Airtel gained 2.7%. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net ₹55.58 crore on Monday. Their domestic counterparts bought shares worth ₹2,492.12 crore. In October, global investors bought shares worth ₹1,768 crore. Technical analysts are watching whether the Nifty is able to pierce the 26,250 level. "If Nifty successfully surpasses 26,250 and heads towards 26,500, then the rally could sustain," said Ruchit Jain, head - technical research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services. "On the downside, 20-day exponential moving average of 25,450 levels is the immediate support." The Nifty Mid-cap 150 and the Small-cap 250 indices advanced 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. Out of the 4,502 shares traded on BSE, 2,099 advanced, while 2,198 declined. In the past week, the mid-cap and small-cap indices climbed 0.6% and 1%, respectively. "The continuation of upmove is expected and the participation of mid and small-cap stocks indicates Nifty could make fresh highs in the next week," said Jain.

Kolkata|Mumbai: Consumer goods retailers and kirana stores are stocking up on winter products in earnest after festive season forecasts proved gross underestimations in various categories and demand outstripped supplies in the wake of the goods and services tax (GST) rate cuts.Primary sales, from companies to retailers, are up about 20% year-on-year in anticipation of a robust season ahead, aided by improved liquidity among traders and retailers after buoyant festive sales, said industry executives.The outlook for the winter period is distinctly sunny, according to the likes of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Emami, Dabur, Bajaj Electricals, V-Mart Retail and Lifestyle International. HUL, India's largest consumer goods maker, has ensured the trade is stocked up "pretty well" for winter, said its chief financial officer Ritesh Tiwari, adding, "It's all there now to sell."Early Start“If at all we have a decent winter, we should have a good outcome,” Tiwari of HUL said. The company has a large winter portfolio of creams, lotions, moisturisers and lip balms.Emami vice chairman Mohan Goenka said winter stocking demand has seen a double-digit increase. “The season has started early. Sentiments are extremely positive, and growth would have been more if there were no five-day closure (of distributors) for Diwali. Winter has set in early in some places too,” he said. The company has a winter portfolio from creams to chyawanprash.Trade channels have fully stocked winter products, said Sanjay Sachdeva, managing director of Bajaj Electricals, electrical water and room heater market leader. “Primaries have grown by around 20% and expectations of a strong season have led to higher stocking up,” he said. 124857521 Industry executives said consumer sentiment improved dramatically after the GST rate cuts, with effect from September 22, leading to a surge in sales in categories such as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and apparel from Navratri till Diwali. Some product categories, such as electronic goods, saw record sales and stocks running out.Winter is a crucial period for FMCG and apparel companies which have a portfolio of seasonal products. For some companies, it accounts for 15-25% of annual sales.The India Meteorological Department last week forecast an increased likelihood of La Niña conditions during the upcoming months, which would mean a colder-than-average winter and heavier snowfall in the Himalayan belt.Apparel retail chains are also looking forward to a growth in sales this winter. Lifestyle International chief executive Devarajan Iyer said indications are of a particularly harsh winter, and the leading departmental store chain doesn’t want to miss the opportunity of increased demand.“We are projecting up to 20% growth and have placed orders accordingly. Stocking has already begun in the northern and eastern regions, where temperatures have started to drop and winters tend to be the most severe,” he said.The prediction of a harsh winter has come as a relief for companies that had a poor April-June, with electronics and FMCG companies, in particular, impacted by weak demand for summer products. Electronics companies, for instance, reported a 40-50% year-on-year slide in sales of air-conditioners, a category which has seen weak demand for several quarters now.Value fashion retail chain V-Mart Retail, too, has stocked up and planned its supplies with expectations of a double-digit sales growth this winter, said its chairman Lalit Agarwal. The winter will coincide with the extended wedding season ahead, another major consumption driver.