Cyclone Arnab claims five lives in Andhra Pradesh; Naidu announces relief package

Cyclone Arnab claimed five lives in Andhra Pradesh, prompting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to announce a comprehensive relief and compensation package for affected families, farmers, fishermen and businesses. Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, he said the government had made extensive efforts to minimise casualties and property damage.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the Chief Minister identified the deceased as Amrapinni Devmud and Kolamuru Madhavi from the Visakhapatnam region, Chukkala Kishore from Bhimavaram, Bhagyalakshmi from Anakapalli and Kollu Venkayamma from Sakretipalli.

Mr. Devmud died after a tree fell on an electric wire, while Ms. Madhavi died after an electric pole fell on her. Mr. Kishore was killed when a palm tree fell on him, and Ms. Bhagyalakshmi died of electrocution. Ms. Venkayamma died when a wall collapsed on her while she was travelling in a passenger vehicle.

The families of each deceased person would receive an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh, Mr. Naidu said. He urged people to remain cautious even after the cyclone crossed the coast. Families whose houses were inundated would receive 25 kg of rice, while fishermen’s families and handloom households would get 50 kg.

Each affected family would also receive one kg each of red gram, onions, sugar and potatoes, besides one litre of palm oil. Those staying in relief camps would receive ₹1,000 per person, subject to a ceiling of ₹3,000 per family.

Partially damaged houses would receive ₹10,000 in compensation. Damaged grocery shops, restaurants and service establishments would be given ₹25,000. Micro, small and medium enterprises with an annual turnover below ₹40 lakh would receive ₹50,000, those with a turnover between ₹40 lakh and ₹1.5 crore ₹1 lakh, and those exceeding ₹1.5 crore ₹1.5 lakh.

Compensation of ₹3,000 would be paid for damaged two-wheelers and ₹10,000 for motorised three-wheelers. Pushcart owners would receive ₹20,000, while weavers and specified artisans would get ₹25,000. Those who lost raw materials would be given ₹10,000.

Fishermen would receive ₹9,000 for partially damaged boats and nets, ₹5,000 for net repairs and ₹10,000 for replacement nets. Compensation would be ₹20,000 for fully damaged non-motorised boats with nets and ₹25,000 for fully damaged fishing boats with nets.

Fish farms would receive ₹18,000, while damaged sericulture sheds would be eligible for ₹25,000. Livestock compensation would include ₹50,000 for a cow, ₹40,000 for a buffalo, ₹25,000 for specified livestock categories and ₹7,500 for each sheep or goat.

Assistance of ₹100 per poultry bird would be provided, subject to a ceiling of ₹10,000. Owners of damaged cattle sheds would receive ₹5,000. Farmers would receive ₹25,000 per hectare for damage to paddy, cotton, groundnut and sugarcane crops, and ₹15,000 per hectare for specified crops, including millets, pulses, maize, soybean, sunflower and tobacco.

Horticultural assistance would include ₹35,000 per hectare for banana, turmeric, chillies and mango, and ₹25,000 for vegetables, papaya, tomato, flowers and onions. Betel leaf growers would receive ₹75,000 per hectare. Assistance for damage to coconut and oil palm crops was fixed at ₹15,000, subject to the applicable assessment guidelines.

Mr. Naidu said wind speeds had reached 125-130 kmph, with gusts of up to 150 kmph. Visakhapatnam recorded 218 mm of rainfall in a single day. Technology, satellite data, radar, CCTV cameras and drones had helped officials monitor the cyclone and coordinate relief operations, he said.

Around 15,000 electricity poles were damaged, making power restoration a major priority. Konaseema and West Godavari districts faced additional challenges. Efforts were also under way to clear roads and restore drinking water supply and sanitation services.

The Chief Minister said he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking Central assistance and the deputation of assessment teams. Officials would verify agricultural losses before distributing crop compensation.

Assuring affected families that relief and rehabilitation measures would be expedited, Mr. Naidu said the government would stand by them until normalcy was restored and livelihoods were rebuilt. He would visit either Konaseema or West Godavari district on Thursday.