AP Govt estimates cyclone Arnab losses at Rs 4,600-Cr
Gachakayalapora (Konaseema Dist), Oct 29 (TNT) :Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said preliminary estimates put the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab at Rs 4,600 crore and announced that Central teams would visit the State on Friday to assess the losses.
After conducting an aerial survey of cyclone-affected areas in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district and visiting relief centres at Gachakayalapora village in Mummidivaram constituency, the Chief Minister interacted with affected people and reviewed relief and restoration measures.
Naidu said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the damage and submitted a preliminary report to the Centre.
The estimated losses could increase after a detailed assessment, he added.
Announcing relief measures, he said compensation of Rs 1,500 would be provided for each damaged coconut and oil palm tree. Families returning from relief camps would receive 25 kg of rice, a packet of essential commodities and financial assistance for immediate expenses.
Farmers would receive compensation for agricultural and horticultural crop losses after assessment, while those covered under crop insurance would be eligible for claims if their yields declined due to the cyclone, he said.
The Chief Minister said seven people had died despite precautionary measures and extensive preparedness. Around 30,000 officials had been mobilised for relief operations, with the Real Time Governance Society coordinating monitoring and response across affected areas.
Konaseema and West Godavari districts were among the worst affected. Around 8,000 electricity poles had been damaged in Konaseema alone, and the Telangana government was sending 1,000 electricity personnel to assist in restoring power supply.
Additional teams could be mobilised from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu if required, he said.
Naidu said fallen trees were being cleared to restore road connectivity and efforts were under way to restore telecommunications services. Technology and machinery had also been deployed to prevent breaches in irrigation tanks.
During his interaction with cyclone victims, he directed officials to take steps to restore damaged huts and examine the possibility of granting house-site pattas to eligible poor families living on government land.
He also instructed officials to facilitate the registration of boats belonging to fishermen who had raised the issue.
Recalling the State’s experience with previous cyclones, the Chief Minister said advance preparedness had helped minimise loss of life, though the seven deaths were deeply distressing.
He directed officials to continue relief, damage assessment and restoration work on priority.
“My objective is to ensure that governance reaches every person and that no one is left to suffer without assistance,” he added.
TNT KM
