Naidu seeks speedy Central assistance as Cyclone Arnab losses put at ₹4,526 crore

Members of the Central team that assessed the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the RTGS Centre on Monday.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday urged the Central team, which visited the areas ravaged by Cyclone Arnab, to expedite assistance, stating that the preliminary assessment had put the losses at around ₹4,526 crore.

He thanked the team for conducting a swift assessment of the damage and said the State had substantially reduced loss of life by constantly monitoring the cyclone through the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) and integrating various technologies.

Mr. Naidu noted that the State was facing a unique situation, with some areas reeling under severe drought due to El Niño while coastal districts were being battered by cyclones.

He informed the Central team that Cyclone Arnab had caused extensive damage to agricultural crops, including coconut and banana, and horticultural produce. The cyclone had also damaged power supply infrastructure, roads and fishermen’s boats. He recalled that cyclones Hudhud, Titli and Montha had caused heavy losses to the State.

The Chief Minister urged the team to submit its recommendations at the earliest and help the State recover from the losses.

The Central team said its members had already visited Konaseema, West Godavari, Kakinada and East Godavari districts. They observed that the RTGS and the WhatsApp-based Mana Mitra platform had played a key role in minimising loss of life and property.

The Central officials appreciated the efforts of collectors in cyclone-hit districts to restore normalcy and said restoration works were being carried out on a war footing, including in remote areas.

Published - November 02, 2026 07:28 pm IST