Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu requested immediate central assistance following damage from cyclones Arnab and Murasu.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday sought immediate central assistance of over ₹4,500 crore following losses from two back-to-back cyclones, according to Business Standard and ThePrint.
The Chief Minister estimated that the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab caused losses of at least ₹4,563 crore, while the severe cyclonic storm Murasu caused ₹343 crore in damage. The two weather systems struck the state within a week.
Naidu briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in the affected areas, including damage from strong winds and heavy rains, according to Urban Acres. The Chief Minister also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah multiple times to detail the extent of the damage.
The state reported that cyclone Arnab battered 781 villages and damaged three lakh hectares of crops and 13,600 horticulture crops across 16 districts. The storm also destroyed 29,000 electric poles and nearly 8,000-km-long power lines.
Cyclone Murasu affected 465 villages in seven districts and destroyed crops in nearly 52,500 hectares. Naidu requested the Centre to provide help to restore normalcy in the affected districts and to assist farmers.
The state government has submitted the request for relief and recovery. The next step involves the assessment of damage by state authorities and consideration of the assistance request by the Centre.
