Amaravati, Nov 6 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to extend immediate interim financial aid to the state, which has been hit by two cyclones within a week.
He pegged the loss from the second cyclone, Murasu, at Rs 1,919 crore.
In a letter to Shah, Naidu said heavy rains and strong winds had caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including electricity networks and roads.
“He (CM) informed the union minister that the state has suffered extensive damage due to successive cyclones, with preliminary estimates putting the losses caused by Cyclone Murasu at Rs 1,919.59 crore and requested immediate interim financial assistance to provide relief and support recovery efforts,” said a press release.
He said the state was still recovering from the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab on October 27 when Murasu struck, leaving farmers and fishermen with losses twice in the same season.
According to the letter, Murasu damaged crops over 1.43 lakh hectares, affecting more than 1.86 lakh farmers. The preliminary loss in the agricultural sector was estimated at Rs 875 crore. Horticultural crops were damaged across 6,504 hectares, affecting 12,178 farmers, with losses estimated at Rs 337 crore.
Naidu added that there was extensive damage in the animal husbandry, aquaculture, housing, irrigation, electricity, Panchayat Raj, education and health sectors.
He said a comprehensive assessment would be undertaken after floodwaters recede, and a detailed report would be submitted to the Centre within the next 15 days.
The CM urged the Union Home Ministry to immediately sanction interim assistance for farmers, fishermen, families whose houses were damaged and other affected sections, and to help restore essential infrastructure and services across the state.
Immediate assistance from the Centre, he said, would provide relief to those affected and enable the state to restore normalcy, the press release added.
Cyclone Murasu crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole, between Nellore and Narsapur, on Tuesday. Eight people died in the cyclone, officials said.
Cyclone Arnab brought heavy rain to many parts of the state, especially the coastal districts. It left a trail of destruction, uprooting trees and electric poles and damaging roads. Five people were killed in related incidents, including electrocution.
