Meet the Officers Steering Andhra’s Battle Against Cyclone Montha: IAS Muddada Ravichandra & IPS Mahesh Chandra Laddha Lead from the Front
Vijayawada: As Cyclone Montha lashes coastal Andhra Pradesh with fierce winds and torrential rain, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s disaster response machinery has found two of its strongest pillars in IAS officer Muddada Ravichandra and IPS officer Mahesh Chandra Laddha. Together, they have transformed Andhra’s crisis response into a model of speed, coordination, and clarity.
Muddada Ravichandra: The Administrative Engine of the CM’s Office
A 1996-batch IAS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, Muddada Ravichandra, who currently serves as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been at the heart of the government’s control system. Known for his sharp administrative acumen, quiet discipline, and results-driven style, Ravichandra has been the invisible force ensuring that every decision from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is implemented with precision.
Day and night, he has been operating out of the Real-Time Governance System (RTGS) command centre, personally supervising the coordination between district collectors, police units, and disaster response teams. His constant presence has turned the CMO into a nerve centre of real-time data, decisions, and execution.
An official close to the operations said, “Ravichandra’s systematic approach has cut through delays and ensured swift evacuation and clear communication from the ground up. The state’s administration is moving like a single, well-oiled unit under his watch.”
By bridging communication gaps and establishing rapid feedback loops, Ravichandra has reinforced public confidence in the government’s disaster-handling capacity — making transparency and accountability the hallmarks of Andhra’s cyclone management.
Mahesh Chandra Laddha: The Strategic Mind Shaping Intelligence and Coordination
Working in seamless tandem with Ravichandra is IPS officer Mahesh Chandra Laddha, the state’s Chief of Intelligence and a 1998-batch officer renowned for his strategic depth and situational awareness.
Holding the rank of Additional Director General (ADG), Laddha brings years of field experience from his earlier stints as Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner and Inspector General with the CRPF. His sharp intelligence inputs and pre-emptive assessments have given the Chief Minister’s team an edge in anticipating threats and deploying resources effectively.
Laddha’s analytical command over field reports and satellite-based intelligence feeds has enabled the government to make data-backed decisions — from evacuation strategies to post-cyclone restoration planning. His role has been crucial in maintaining public safety and preventing panic through accurate, timely information.
Together, Ravichandra’s administrative command and Laddha’s intelligence strategy have forged a resilient, coordinated response that has become the backbone of Andhra Pradesh’s fight against Cyclone Montha. Under CM Naidu’s direction, their synergy has turned crisis management into a model of governance driven by precision, foresight, and teamwork.
