Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday, October 29, that the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab has inflicted losses of at least Rs 4,600 crore on the state and claimed seven lives. He was addressing a press conference at Gachakayalapora village in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district after an aerial survey of the cyclone-hit areas, PTI reported. The toll is up from the five deaths reported on Wednesday, when the cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts.

Naidu cautioned that the Rs 4,600 crore figure is a preliminary estimate and would increase once the full extent of the devastation is assessed on the ground. Konaseema and West Godavari districts bore the brunt of the storm, he said. Around 8,000 electricity poles were uprooted in Konaseema district alone, and about 15,000 poles were uprooted across the state, disrupting power and telecommunications. Power had been restored in most districts, with restoration still under way in Konaseema and West Godavari, and Andhra Pradesh has sought 1,000 electricity personnel from Telangana to speed up the work.

The Chief Minister said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the damage and that the state had submitted a preliminary report to the Centre. Shah has promised to dispatch a central team to the state on Friday, October 30, to assess the destruction. About 30,000 government officials were deployed on cyclone relief work, Naidu said.

Relief announced for affected families

Naidu announced compensation of Rs 1,500 for each uprooted coconut tree and each oil palm tree. Families whose houses were inundated will receive 25 kg of rice, while affected weavers and fishermen will receive 50 kg of rice, along with one kilogram each of onion, cooking oil and red gram dal. People who took refuge in cyclone shelters will receive Rs 1,000 per person, up to a maximum of Rs 3,000 per family. As advance crop insurance had been provided, a drop in harvest yield would be compensated, and agricultural and horticultural losses would be calculated and farmers compensated, he said.

The India Meteorological Department said rainfall exceeding 200 mm was recorded at several locations in Anakapalli, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts during the storm, with Kannuripalem in Anakapalli recording the highest at 261.5 mm.