Central teams in Andhra today to assess Cyclone Arnab damage, says Naidu

Central teams will visit Andhra Pradesh on Friday to assess the damage wreaked by Cyclone Arnab, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, pegging preliminary losses at Rs 4,600 crore and cautioning that the figure could rise after a fuller survey.

Naidu made an aerial survey of Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district on Thursday, inspected relief centres at Gachakayalapora village in Mummidivaram constituency and spoke to cyclone victims about their difficulties. He said he had called Union Home Minister Amit Shah to explain the damage and had submitted a preliminary damage report to the Centre.

The state government will pay Rs 1,500 for every damaged coconut tree and every damaged oil palm tree. Families leaving relief camps will receive 25 kg of rice, a packet of essential commodities and cash for immediate expenses. Crop insurance has already been provided, Naidu said, and farmers will be compensated if yields fall because of the cyclone, with payments credited to their bank accounts soon after assessment.

The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh has weathered many cyclones, including Hudhud, Titli, Montha and Arnab, and that precautions drawn from those experiences had "significantly mitigated the loss of life". Seven people nonetheless reportedly died in the latest storm, which he described as deeply distressing. Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema and West Godavari districts were among the worst affected.

Restoration is the immediate priority. About 8,000 electricity poles have fallen in Konaseema district alone and all will be replaced to restore supply, Naidu said. His government has asked Telangana to send 1,000 electrical personnel and will mobilise teams from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu if necessary. Officials monitored the situation from Srikakulam to Krishna district and ran relief operations through the Real Time Governance Society, he added.

Fallen trees were cleared from roads through the previous night, machinery was rushed to vulnerable locations to remove trees before they caused further disruption, and technology was used to prevent breaches in irrigation tanks, he said. Around 30,000 officials were mobilised for the effort.

During his visit, women told the Chief Minister their huts had collapsed and he directed the District Collector to restore them. He also asked officials to examine, under existing rules, whether house-site pattas could be granted to poor families living on government land. Fishermen complained that their boats were unregistered, and the Collector was told to help with registration. Naidu said officials had worked day and night so that people faced minimum inconvenience, and promised that local problems would be settled as quickly as possible.

(With inputs from media reports)