Cyclone Arnab has caused extensive damage across Andhra Pradesh, with preliminary estimates putting the losses at about Rs 4,600 crore, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said. Seven people lost their lives despite extensive precautionary measures, under which around 30,000 officials were mobilised and the administrative machinery was kept on high alert.
Naidu carried out an aerial survey of cyclone-hit areas in Krishna, West Godavari and Dr B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts on Thursday, visited a relief centre at Gachakayalapora village in Mummidivaram constituency, and interacted with affected families. He said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, briefed him on the destruction and relief measures, and submitted a preliminary damage report to the Centre. Central government teams were scheduled to visit Andhra Pradesh on Friday to assess the damage, and the final extent of the losses will become clearer after a detailed assessment.
According to preliminary state government estimates, cyclone and subsequent heavy rainfall affected agricultural crops across 3,33,268 hectares in 16 districts, while horticultural crops across another 22,452 hectares in 15 districts were also damaged. Approximately 2,396 km of major district roads and state highways were damaged, with West Godavari worst affected at 552 km, followed by Konaseema at 396 km and East Godavari at 372 km. In Konaseema alone, around 8,000 electricity poles were damaged, and restoring power and telecommunications has emerged as one of the main challenges.
Relief work is under way, with clearance operations to remove uprooted trees and restore road connectivity, and power supply restored to 4,771 of the 5,400 affected villages in the APEPDCL service area. The state government has announced compensation of Rs 1,500 for each damaged coconut tree and each damaged oil-palm tree, while families returning from relief camps will receive 25 kg of rice, a packet of essential commodities and financial assistance. Compensation for agricultural and horticultural crop losses will be credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts once the damage assessment is completed.
Source: News18 (https://www.news18.com/india/rs-4600-crore-damage-7-deaths-andhra-grapples-with-cyclone-arnab-aftermath-cm-naidu-surveys-situation-ws-blrt-10404182.html)
