CM Chandrababu Naidu seeks early Central assistance for Andhra Pradesh after Cyclone Arnab, with preliminary damage estimated at Rs 4,526 crore.
Chandrababu Naidu Seeks Early Central Assistance for Cyclone Arnab-hit Andhra Pradesh
State estimates preliminary damage at Rs 4,526 crore
Central team appreciates relief and restoration efforts
Amaravati: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Central government to extend financial assistance to Andhra Pradesh at the earliest to help the State recover from the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab. He informed a Central assessment team that preliminary estimates put the total damage at Rs 4,526 crore and that a report detailing the losses had already been submitted to the Centre.
Members of the Central team, which visited cyclone-affected areas to assess the damage, met the Chief Minister at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre in the Secretariat on Monday. The team included officials from the Union Ministries of Home Affairs, Agriculture, Water Resources, National Highways and Finance.
Naidu thanked the Central government for deputing the assessment team soon after the State submitted its preliminary report. He requested the team to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage and submit its recommendations without delay, stating that early financial assistance would provide significant relief to the State.
The Central team briefed the Chief Minister on its field visits to Konaseema, West Godavari, Kakinada and East Godavari districts. Officials said they had inspected the damage caused by the cyclone and identified extensive losses to paddy, coconut and banana crops.
The team observed that farmers had suffered substantial losses as the cyclone struck when several crops were nearing harvest. The damage assessment also covered horticulture, aquaculture and other commercial crops.
The Chief Minister said the cyclone had affected not only agricultural and horticultural crops but also aquaculture activities and fishermen's boats.
He pointed out that the State was yet to fully recover from the impact of Cyclone Arnab when Cyclone Murasu began approaching the coast. Recalling the damage caused by earlier cyclones, including Hudhud, Titli and Montha, he said Andhra Pradesh had repeatedly faced severe weather-related challenges.
Naidu noted that while one part of the State was experiencing severe drought conditions attributed to El Niño, another was dealing with the impact of cyclones. The State was encouraging farmers to shift towards horticulture to address drought-related challenges while also adopting technology to improve preparedness for cyclones, he said.
The Chief Minister explained how the integration of the RTGS Centre with various technological platforms had helped reduce casualties during cyclone-related emergencies.
The Central team appreciated the use of RTGS and WhatsApp-based Mana Mitra services in reducing loss of life and property. It said these practices could be recommended for adoption by other States as well.
Naidu informed the Central team that the cyclone had damaged critical infrastructure, including electricity networks and roads. Around 7,000 personnel had been deployed to restore power supply on a war footing, he said.
The State government was continuously monitoring rehabilitation, relief and restoration activities through the RTGS platform, ensuring that departments remained coordinated and that progress in affected areas was tracked.
The Central team appreciated the State government's prompt response, relief operations and restoration efforts. It particularly commended the rapid restoration of electricity and road connectivity, noting that repair works were progressing swiftly even in remote areas.
The Chief Minister reiterated his request for an early assessment and timely release of Central assistance to support recovery and rehabilitation in the cyclone-affected districts.
