India, Oct. 28 -- The Odisha government on Monday ordered the closure of schools and anganwadi centres across nine coastal and southern districts, and deployed over 128 rescue teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and the National Disaster Response Force as Cyclone Montha moves closer to the eastern coast.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari urged people in the southern Odisha districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Nabarangpur to remain indoors.

"As the system is likely to make landfall around 200 km from Malkangiri, southern Odisha is expected to face the maximum impact," Pujari told reporters, adding that while eight districts have been placed in the red zone, the rem...