Cyclone impact and flooding in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has faced significant destruction following the successive impacts of Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu. Cyclone Arnab caused an estimated 4,563 crore rupees in losses, affecting 781 villages and destroying approximately 29,000 electricity poles and 7,981 km of power lines. In response, the Karnataka government dispatched 500 skilled linemen, 15 crane-equipped trucks, and 25 drilling machines to assist in restoring power infrastructure.

The second storm, Cyclone Murasu, resulted in an additional 343 crore rupees in losses, impacting 465 villages and damaging over 52,000 hectares of crops. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has conducted aerial surveys of districts including Guntur, Prakasam, and Bapatla to assess damage. The state government is seeking central assistance, with the Chief Minister engaging Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure relief. Priority is being placed on timely crop insurance payouts for affected farmers.

Recovery efforts have been complicated by continuous heavy rainfall over five days, causing reservoirs and irrigation tanks to overflow. This has led to significant flooding in low-lying areas of East and West Godavari, inundating residential colonies, national highways, and local roads in areas such as Bhimavaram, Nidadavole, and Tadepalligudem.

To manage widespread power disruptions, more than 3,000 electricity department personnel from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana have been deployed. As of Thursday evening, power supply was fully restored in the Godavari districts, while restoration work in Prakasam and Guntur districts reached approximately 70 percent.