Andhra Pradesh seeks relief after twin cyclones Arnab and Murasu

The Andhra Pradesh government has requested central assistance following extensive damage caused by two successive cyclones, Arnab and Murasu. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has engaged with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure relief for the state.

Preliminary reports indicate that Cyclone Arnab caused losses estimated at 4,563 crore rupees, affecting 781 villages across 16 districts. The storm damaged crops over 300,000 hectares and destroyed approximately 29,000 electricity poles and 7,981 km of power lines.

Cyclone Murasu caused an additional estimated 343 crore rupees in losses, impacting 465 villages across seven districts and damaging crops over 52,000 hectares. Chief Minister Naidu conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas, including Guntur, Prakasam, and Bapatla districts, to assess the impact on infrastructure and agriculture.

The state administration is emphasizing the importance of timely crop insurance payouts to help farmers manage immediate financial shocks and restore agricultural activity. Coordination between the state, central government, and insurers is being prioritized to facilitate rapid loss assessment and claims settlement.