Hyderabad, Oct. 29 -- As heavy rains lashed the city following cyclone Montha', citizens are confused over the name, many assuming it means something dangerous. The name actually Montha means fragrant flower or beautiful flower in the Thai language.

The name Motha wasin fact given by Thailand. The cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region are given names from a predetermined list submitted by countries in the region. The name Montha was suggested by Thailand, one of the 13 member countries that contribute to naming cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region.

Thailand, like other countries, chose names drawn from its language and cultural identity to represent its contribution to the shared regional list. As a protocol cyclones in the Nor...