Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to release in advance the second installment of the Centre’s contribution to the SDRF of `493.60 crore to Andhra Pradesh and `450 crore to Tamil Nadu in view of the floods caused by cyclone Michaung, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said.

Meanwhile in Chennai, following an aerial survey and a high-level meeting with Chief Minister MK Stalin at the Secretariat, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the first installment of `450 crore had been released earlier to the State.

“PM Modi is distressed by loss of lives in TN due to rains, flood,” he said. In a post on X, Shah said the Prime Minister has also approved the first urban flood mitigation project of `561.29 crore for ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management activities for Chennai Basin Project’ under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), which also includes Central assistance of `500 crore.

The severe cyclonic storm Michaung has affected Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Though the extent of damage is varied, many areas of these States have been inundated, affecting standing crops, the Home Minister said. “To help the State Governments with the management of relief necessitated by the cyclonic storm, PM @narendramodi directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to release in advance the Central share of the 2nd instalment of SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) of `493.60 crore to Andhra Pradesh and `450 crore to Tamil Nadu,” he said.

“I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected. We stand with them in this crucial hour and will ensure the situation normalises at the earliest,” Shah said. Michaung left behind a trail of destruction in Andhra Pradesh, damaging 770-kilometre roads, uprooting trees and killing livestock. According to data shared by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), nearly 40 lakh people from 194 villages and two towns were affected by Michaung’s impact.