Andhra Pradesh CM Seeks Central Team Assessment Following Cyclone Arnab

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has formally requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to dispatch a Central Team to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab at the earliest.

In a letter sent to the Home Minister on Wednesday, Chief Minister Naidu highlighted the extent of the damage. The cyclone's severity has caused significant destruction to crops, houses, roads, and electricity poles across multiple regions in the state.

Relief and rescue operations are currently underway in Andhra Pradesh. The state government has deployed 16 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 11 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams across 14 affected districts. According to the government, advance preparedness measures helped prevent any loss of life, and more than 28,000 people have been safely shifted to rehabilitation centres.

The districts of Konaseema, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Anakapalli, and Krishna have borne the brunt of the cyclone. To manage the emergency, control rooms and the State Emergency Operations Centre are functioning round-the-clock.

The state government has prioritized immediate relief measures, focusing on the restoration of electricity and drinking water supplies in the impacted areas. A vehicle was also reported damaged after a tree fell on it in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday following the storm.

The Chief Minister stated that a comprehensive report detailing the extent of the damage will be submitted to the Centre once a thorough assessment is completed. He has urged the Centre to maintain the support of the NDRF and other central agencies for ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations in Andhra Pradesh.

"Natural disasters present immediate operational challenges for regional supply chains, infrastructure, and local businesses. The prompt deployment of rescue teams and prioritization of basic utilities like electricity and water are critical steps to stabilize the local economy. For businesses operating in affected regions, maintaining robust disaster management and continuity frameworks is essential to mitigate economic losses during such severe weather disruptions." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes