AP Badly Battered by Murasu Cyclone: Crops Across 30,000 Hectares Damaged

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone on Tuesday and explained the damage caused by the severe cyclone.

Naidu briefed the Prime Minister on the damage caused first by Cyclone Arnab and subsequently by Cyclone Murasu, which struck the state in quick succession. He sought generous financial assistance from the Centre to undertake relief and restoration work.

He informed the Prime Minister that the cyclones had damaged roads and highways, disrupted power supply due to the uprooting of electric poles, and caused extensive crop losses across more than 30,000 hectares. Modi is learnt to have appreciated the State government’s preventive measures and constant monitoring of the situation, which ensured no loss of life.

Cyclone Murasu has left a trail of devastation across Andhra Pradesh, damaging standing crops spread over more than 30,000 hectares in 15 affected districts. According to officials, paddy, cotton and maize were among the worst-hit crops.

Krishna, Bapatla and Nandyal districts were among the worst affected by the cyclone.

An official press release said the cyclone had an adverse impact on 132 mandals across the 15 districts. As many as 10,805 people were evacuated to cyclone shelters. The state government set up 171 relief camps and distributed 14,810 food packets, the release added.

Eleven NDRF and 13 SDRF teams were deployed for relief and rescue operations. The authorities also arranged 613 generators to ensure uninterrupted essential services. The Fire Department deployed 185 teams to clear uprooted trees and remove waterlogging.

As a precautionary measure ahead of the cyclone’s landfall, 3,066 pregnant women and 1,008 nursing mothers were shifted to hospitals. In addition, 725 medical teams were dispatched to 13 districts, while 362 ambulances were kept on standby as part of the emergency response measures.