Amaravati, October 2026 : Cyclone Arnab has claimed seven lives and caused preliminary estimated losses of ₹4,600 crore in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday. He cautioned that the damage assessment could rise after a detailed evaluation of the affected areas.
Following an aerial survey of cyclone-hit regions, Naidu said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, briefed him on the situation and the state government’s response, and submitted a preliminary damage report to the Centre. Central teams are scheduled to visit Andhra Pradesh on Friday to assess the destruction caused by the cyclone, which crossed the coast on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey of affected areas in B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, visited relief centres at Gachakayalapora village and interacted with residents to understand their difficulties. Addressing the media later, he outlined the relief, rehabilitation and restoration measures being undertaken by the government.
Naidu said the government was committed to providing assistance to affected families and farmers. Compensation of ₹1,500 will be provided for every damaged coconut tree and oil palm tree, he announced.
Families returning home from relief camps will receive 25 kg of rice, a packet of essential commodities and financial assistance to meet their immediate needs.
The Chief Minister said farmers were covered under the crop insurance scheme and would receive compensation if their yields declined due to the cyclone. After the damage assessment is completed, compensation for agricultural and horticultural crops will be credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts at the earliest.
Government Mobilises 30,000 Personnel for Relief Operations
Recalling the state’s history of devastating cyclones, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh had experienced several major disasters over the decades. He referred to a severe cyclone that struck the region on November 6 about 30 years ago, as well as the damage caused by Hudhud, Titli, Montha and Arnab. He also recalled the Diviseema cyclone of around 70 years ago, which claimed thousands of lives.
“Taking lessons from past disasters, we implemented precautionary measures and significantly reduced the loss of life. Despite all precautions, seven people unfortunately lost their lives, which is deeply distressing,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the government machinery had been placed on high alert before the cyclone made landfall. Continuous communication was maintained with district collectors, Superintendents of Police and other officials to coordinate preparedness and emergency response.
Konaseema and West Godavari were among the worst-affected districts. Officials began clearing fallen trees on Wednesday night to restore road connectivity and facilitate the movement of emergency teams and relief supplies.
Naidu said the government had monitored the situation from Srikakulam to Krishna district, coordinating response efforts through the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS). Measures were also being taken to minimise inconvenience to residents and restore telecommunications services disrupted by the cyclone.
Power Restoration Gets Priority
The Chief Minister said approximately 8,000 electricity poles had fallen in Konaseema district alone, severely affecting power infrastructure.
“All damaged poles will be replaced and power supply restored as quickly as possible,” he said.
To accelerate restoration, the Andhra Pradesh government has requested the Telangana government to send 1,000 electricity personnel to assist in the affected areas. Additional teams may also be mobilised from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu if required.
Naidu said around 30,000 government personnel had been deployed for relief and restoration work, with officials working round the clock to reduce the hardships faced by residents.
During his interaction with cyclone victims, the Chief Minister assured them that the administration was making every effort to restore essential services, provide immediate relief and ensure that assistance reached affected families as quickly as possible.
The government will continue assessing the damage and coordinating with the Centre and neighbouring states to accelerate recovery operations across cyclone-hit districts.
