Naidu Surveys Konaseema After Arnab; Rs 1,500 per Tree Compensation

Cyclone Arnab has left seven people dead in Andhra Pradesh, and the state estimates the damage at Rs 4,600 crore so far, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday. He cautioned that the figure is preliminary and could grow once a detailed survey is complete.

Naidu made the remarks after flying over the cyclone-affected regions. The storm struck the coast on Wednesday, and the state is now focusing on relief and recovery.

He said he had phoned Union Home Minister Amit Shah to brief him on the damage and the government's response. A preliminary report has been shared with the Centre, and central teams are scheduled to begin assessing losses across the state on Friday.

During his visit to Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, the Chief Minister inspected relief centres at Gachakayalapora village and met cyclone victims to hear their concerns. Speaking to the media afterwards, he described the measures being taken for relief and reconstruction.

According to Naidu, each damaged coconut tree and palm tree will earn its owner Rs 1,500 in compensation. Families leaving relief camps will be provided 25 kg of rice, a packet of essential items and immediate financial support.

Farmers enrolled under the crop insurance scheme will also be eligible for payouts if yields fall because of the cyclone. Compensation for agricultural and horticultural crops will be credited to beneficiaries' bank accounts soon after losses are verified.

The Chief Minister reminded reporters that Andhra Pradesh has repeatedly faced severe storms, including a major cyclone thirty years ago on November 6, as well as Hudhud, Titli, Montha and Arnab. He also referred to the Divisima cyclone roughly seventy years ago, which took thousands of lives.

Naidu said precautions based on past experience had kept casualties lower than they might have been. However, he expressed sorrow over the seven deaths and said the state machinery had been kept on high alert, with constant coordination with district collectors and police superintendents.

Konaseema and West Godavari districts suffered the most. Fallen trees are being removed to reopen roads, and work is progressing to restore communication networks. The state is monitoring conditions from Srikakulam to Krishna district through the Real Time Governance Society.

Approximately 8,000 electricity poles were downed in Konaseema alone. All damaged poles will be replaced, and power supply will be restored at the earliest. Telangana has been requested to send 1,000 electricity workers, and teams from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu may follow if needed.

Naidu said around 30,000 officials have been deployed to ensure that the inconvenience to people is kept to a minimum.