Central teams to reach Andhra Pradesh today to assess cyclone Arnab damage

Central teams are due to arrive in Andhra Pradesh on Friday to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab, which has so far claimed seven lives in the state.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the visit on Thursday after an aerial survey of the cyclone-hit areas. He said the preliminary estimate of losses stands at Rs 4,600 crore and could go up once a detailed assessment is done.

He added that he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, briefed him on the situation and the steps the state has taken, and submitted a preliminary damage report to the Centre.

Arnab, a severe cyclonic storm, crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday.

Within hours, Naidu wrote to Shah asking for a central team to be sent early and for the NDRF and other central agencies to continue supporting relief and rehabilitation work.

He pointed to damage to crops, houses, roads and electricity poles.

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The state has said more than 28,000 people were moved to rehabilitation centres and that 27 NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed. A flash flood alert was issued for districts including Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, Eluru, Konaseema, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam.

According to the state, over 80,000 hectares of crops have been damaged, and an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for the family of each person who died.

While touring Konaseema district, Naidu spoke to affected residents. Several women told him that the huts they lived in had collapsed in the storm.

Speaking to reporters at Gachakayalapora village, he outlined the relief and restoration work under way.

The central teams will examine the losses, and their findings will help decide what further assistance the Centre gives the state.