Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to use technology for a rapid assessment of damage caused by Cyclone Arnab, while ordering continued relief services, road clearance, garbage removal and restoration of power in affected areas.
Naidu issued the directions during a teleconference on Thursday, as coastal Andhra dealt with cyclone-related damage and Rayalaseema faced separate weather stress linked by the chief minister to El Nino conditions. He said the government machinery was working continuously to manage the situation and instructed officials to keep the public informed about relief and restoration work.
The chief minister said regular communication was necessary to secure public cooperation during the response. He directed officials to prepare quick estimates of damage and implement compensation-related schemes for agricultural and horticultural farmers affected by the cyclone.
East Godavari and West Godavari districts have reported damage to existing crops and coconut trees, according to the information shared during the teleconference. Naidu instructed agricultural officials, scientists and students to examine whether submerged crops could be saved and to identify measures that could reduce crop losses in future weather events.
He also asked officials to explore the possibility of replanting trees and horticultural crops, including coconut trees. The direction links immediate relief with the recovery of agricultural assets that may have been damaged or uprooted during the cyclone.
Naidu said the state had taken precautions to prevent ponds and canals from becoming flooded and that efforts had been made to limit loss of life and property. Uprooted trees had already been removed in some areas, but he instructed authorities to clear any remaining trees from roads immediately.
The chief minister also ordered the removal of cyclone-related garbage and said power supply should be restored in all areas by the following day. He said the government had issued a government order covering compensation-related issues, although the source report did not provide details of the order or the compensation amounts.
The directions cover two distinct regional challenges. Coastal Andhra is dealing with the direct effects of Cyclone Arnab, including crop, tree and infrastructure damage, while Rayalaseema is experiencing weather conditions that are not favourable for farming activity. Naidu asked the administration to respond effectively in both regions and extend support to affected residents.
The response places local administrations, power agencies, road-clearing teams and agricultural departments under parallel pressure. For residents, the immediate priorities identified by the government are access through cleared roads, removal of accumulated waste, restoration of electricity and continued public services until normal conditions return. The next stated milestones are the completion of rapid damage estimates, restoration of power and implementation of compensation measures under the government order.
