Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to review the situation in cyclone-hit areas of the state, with Naidu seeking central assistance for relief and restoration work following the impact of two back-to-back cyclones, Arnab and Murasu, within a week, the chief minister’s office (CMO) said.
He had written to the Centre and held several discussions with Union ministers on the difficulties faced by farmers. The chief minister had spoken to Union home minister Amit Shah four times and sought immediate intervention, following which central assessment teams were sent to the state to evaluate the damage. Cyclone Murasu caused property damage estimated at ₹ 343 crore, according to a preliminary assessment submitted by the state government. As many as 465 villages in seven districts were severely affected by the cyclone. Agricultural crops across three lakh hectares and horticultural crops spread over 13,600 hectares in 16 districts were damaged. The cyclone also damaged around 29,000 electricity poles and 7,981 km of power lines.
Paddy crops spread across 50,473 hectares and commercial crops across 1,985 hectares suffered damage due to strong winds and heavy rains. The state government also estimated losses of ₹ 4,563 crore due to Cyclone Arnab, which affected 781 villages. During a review meeting at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS), the chief minister instructed district collectors to ensure that road traffic was not disrupted and that people did not face difficulties due to waterlogging.
Naidu said he had been in constant touch with the Centre to secure assistance for farmers who suffered losses to agricultural and horticultural crops.
