Bhubaneswar, Oct. 27 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rain and landslide alerts for several districts of Odisha as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the eastern coast.

IMD Bhubaneswar Director Dr Manorama Mohanty said the cyclone is expected to intensify by the morning of October 28 and make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, by the evening or night of the same day.

Mohanty also raised concerns over the storm likely to reach severe cyclonic intensity with wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, bringing heavy rainfall to Odisha over the next two to three days.

"The cyclone is expected to intensify by the morning of 28 October. It is likely to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh betw...