Cyclone Arnab impact in Andhra: Five feared dead, extensive crop damage reported

At least five people are reportedly feared dead in Andhra Pradesh in the aftermath of Cyclone Arnab, which made landfall on Wednesday, October 28, bringing heavy winds and rain. Damage to crops, roads, power infrastructure and houses have also been reported in various parts of the state.

Cyclone Arnab crossed the coast near Narsapuram, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, and towards the Yanam coast, between 2 am and 8 am on October 28. 

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is set to visit cyclone-affected areas on October 29. He will inspect damaged crops and interact with farmers in Cheyyeru and Katrenikona villages of Konaseema district. He will also visit flood-affected individuals taking shelter in cyclone relief centres.

CM Naidu said he spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him on the impact of Cyclone Arnab on Andhra Pradesh, asking him to send teams from the Union government to assess damage and extend financial assistance. He mentioned that crops in about 70,900 hectares, mainly paddy, and horticulture crops of over 10,450 hectares have been reported damaged.

“I explained the extensive damage caused by the cyclone, particularly to agricultural and horticultural crops, power infrastructure, roads and other public assets. In view of the widespread damage, I requested the Union Home Minister to depute Central teams at the earliest to assess the losses and extend financial assistance from the Government of India to support relief, rehabilitation and restoration efforts,” CM Naidu said. 

The CM held a teleconference with officials on the morning of October 29, where he was informed that normalcy has returned to most cyclone-affected areas, with the exception of a few locations. 

Meanwhile, voting for urban local bodies will also continue as planned earlier on November 1, the State Election Commission has announced. 

A special task force of 475 personnel has been appointed for sanitation works in cyclone-affected areas, with 100 teams deployed to Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema and West Godavari districts. The teams will prioritise tasks such as clearing stagnant water from low-lying areas in villages, cleaning drainage systems, and carrying out bleaching and chlorination. Water-testing teams have been assigned to check the quality of drinking water. 

The government has issued orders to provide compensation of Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 to families sheltered in relief camps as they return home. 

Managing Director of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Prakhar Jain said that on October 29, heavy rainfall is expected in one or two places across the Srikakulam, Parvathipura Manyam and Vizianagaram districts, while other areas may experience light to moderate rain. Residents in low-lying areas should take necessary precautions, as heavy rainfall could potentially lead to flash floods, he said. People have been advised not to attempt to cross overflowing streams or canals.

To carry out emergency relief operations in the cyclone-affected districts, a total of 16 NDRF teams and 11 SDRF teams have been pre-positioned. Additionally, fire service personnel and police teams are on the ground engaged in restoration work, such as clearing fallen trees.