Arnab cyclone inflicted at least Rs 4 600 cr loss to Andhra Pradesh CM

    Amaravati, Oct 29 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab has inflicted a loss of at least Rs 4,600 crore on the state.

    Addressing a press conference at Gachakayala Pora village in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, the Chief Minister underscored that the estimation of loss will further inflate once the final pictures of the devastation emerge.

    The CM noted that he apprised Union Home Minister Amit Shah of the impact of Arnab and explained the situation and efforts undertaken.

    According to Naidu, Shah promised to dispatch a Central team to the state on Friday. He also said Andhra Pradesh has submitted the preliminary report on the cyclonic destruction.

    Naidu interacted with the affected villagers at Cheyyeru village in Katrenikona mandal.

    He promised to compensate Rs 1,500 each for an uprooted coconut tree and an oil palm tree and hand over an aid kit of 25 kg rice, other essentials and a little cash for evacuees departing the cyclone shelters.

    As advance crop insurance has been provided, the CM said a drop in the harvest yield will be compensated, promising that the government will move forward to avoid losses for farmers.

    The CM assured that the agricultural and horticultural losses will be calculated and farmers will be compensated soon.

    Despite implementing sufficient precautions, the CM lamented that seven people died in the cyclone, adding that Konaseema and West Godavari districts bore the brunt.

    Assuring that the telecommunication services will be restored, he underlined that 8,000 electric poles were uprooted in Konaseema district. Naidu promised to repair all the power poles and restore power supply.

    For complete restoration of power, he said 1,000 electricity employees from Telangana are being brought to the state, and added that if needed, he will also request Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

    Later, Naidu personally visited some flattened paddy fields to comprehend the devastation.

    Earlier, Naidu undertook an aerial survey of swathes of land and fields across a few districts devastated by the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab.

    The chief minister surveyed Krishna, West Godavari and Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema districts, an official press release said.

    The CM took a chopper ride from the greenfield capital city of Amaravati to Cheyyeru village in Katrenikona mandal in Konaseema district.

    En route, the CM observed affected paddy fields and aquaculture ponds as well as banana and coconut orchards.

    He observed inundated fields and uprooted palm trees in Nimmakuru, Pamarru, Bantumilli, Narasapuram, Palakollu, Amalapuram and Katrenikona regions, the release added further.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)