Which of the following cyclones struck the coast of Andhra Pradesh in December 2018, bringing heavy rain and strong winds?

Introduction / Context:
India's east coast is frequently hit by tropical cyclones that form over the Bay of Bengal, especially during the post monsoon season. Different storms receive different names, and exam questions often ask you to match a particular cyclone with the state or year it affected. This question focuses on the cyclone that made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast in December 2018, causing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and damage to crops and infrastructure.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question narrows the event to a cyclone that struck Andhra Pradesh in December 2018.

- Several named cyclones in recent years are given: Gaja, Ockhi, Phethai, Neelam, and Titli.

- It is assumed that you have followed basic current affairs or disaster related news.

- No meteorological calculations are required, only correct identification of the cyclone.

Concept / Approach:
The approach here is factual recall based on contemporary news and geographic awareness. In December 2018, a storm named Cyclone Phethai developed over the Bay of Bengal and moved towards the eastern coast of India. It made landfall near the Andhra Pradesh coast, leading to warnings, evacuations, and heavy rainfall. Other cyclones listed in the options occurred in different years or affected other primary regions, so careful association of name, date, and landfall location is needed.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Cyclone Gaja mainly affected Tamil Nadu and parts of Puducherry in November 2018, not December, and its primary landfall was not in Andhra Pradesh. Step 2: Remember that Cyclone Ockhi impacted mainly Lakshadweep, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu in late 2017, rather than making a key landfall in Andhra Pradesh in December 2018. Step 3: Identify Cyclone Phethai as the storm that intensified over the Bay of Bengal and struck coastal Andhra Pradesh around mid December 2018. Step 4: Note that Cyclone Neelam impacted southern India in 2012 and is not linked to the December 2018 event on the Andhra coast. Step 5: Recognise that Cyclone Titli made landfall near Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in October 2018, earlier in the season, not in December. Step 6: Conclude that the cyclone matching the December 2018 Andhra Pradesh event is Cyclone Phethai.

Verification / Alternative Check:
If you cross check news summaries or disaster management notes for 2018, you will see that Cyclone Phethai is specifically mentioned as a December 2018 cyclone that made landfall near the East Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh. Reports describe evacuation of thousands of people, heavy rainfall, crop damage, and disruption of transport. The dates and location match what the question describes, confirming that Phethai is the correct name among the options given.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Cyclone Gaja primarily affected Tamil Nadu earlier in November 2018 and is not the December Andhra coast cyclone mentioned here. Cyclone Ockhi occurred in 2017 and mainly impacted Lakshadweep and Kerala, so it does not fit the time or place given in the question. Cyclone Neelam was an earlier storm in 2012, not the one that struck Andhra Pradesh in December 2018. Cyclone Titli made landfall nearer to Odisha and parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh in October 2018, not in December, and is therefore not the best match.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many cyclones affect the Bay of Bengal coast within a short span of years, students often confuse their names, months, and landfall locations. It is easy to mix up Titli, Gaja, and Phethai, since they all occurred in 2018. A good strategy is to make a small table in your notes matching cyclone names with primary affected states and months. This helps prevent errors when questions ask for specific combinations like "which cyclone struck Andhra Pradesh in December 2018".

Final Answer:
The cyclone that struck the coast of Andhra Pradesh in December 2018 was Cyclone Phethai.