Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, conducted an aerial survey of Guntur, Bapatla, and Prakasam districts battered by cyclone 'Murasu', as the state grappled simultaneously with flood damage along the coast and a deepening drought crisis in its interior regions. The visit signals the government's urgency in assessing ground-level damage before formal relief disbursement begins.

Key Directions from the Aerial Survey

Following the survey, Naidu directed officials to take immediate steps to clear waterlogging in Karamchedu, Kothapatnam, Chirala, Chilakaluripet, and Parchur. At a subsequent review meeting at RTGS, he instructed district collectors to ensure that road traffic was not disrupted in affected zones.

Officials also briefed the Chief Minister that heavy rains were continuing in tribal areas of Eluru district. The Eluru District Collector reported that minor irrigation tanks in some areas were overflowing — adding to the pressure on an already stretched relief machinery.

Drought Crisis Compounds Cyclone Damage

Even as coastal Andhra Pradesh battled the cyclone's aftermath, Naidu highlighted that Rayalaseema and several other inland regions were simultaneously reeling under severe drought caused by deficient rainfall and the cumulative impact of the El Niño weather pattern. The state has declared 388 mandals across 21 districts as drought-affected and has already submitted a report to the Centre seeking financial assistance.

Naidu drew particular attention to Anantapur district, which reportedly recorded the second-lowest rainfall in the country this year. Farmers in Rayalaseema, he said, were facing acute shortages of irrigation water, drinking water, and fodder — a triple stress that threatened both Kharif crop survival and rural livelihoods.

IMCT Meet: State Presses Centre for Relief

The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), which had toured Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, and Sri Sathya Sai districts on 2 and 3 November to assess the drought situation, met Naidu on Wednesday and briefed him on their findings. The Chief Minister used the meeting to press the Centre for expanded assistance, stating that the assessment had provided a clear understanding of the rainfall deficit, crop losses, and ongoing relief measures.

Naidu indicated the state would submit a detailed drought report to the Centre within a week.

Employment and Natural Farming Push

The Chief Minister also raised a structural demand: he requested the Central team to increase the minimum number of workdays under the VB-G RAM G scheme to 200 days and allow its utilisation for agricultural activities. Naidu argued the move would help address a shortage of agricultural labour while simultaneously creating additional rural employment — framing it as a solution that serves both immediate crisis relief and longer-term farm resilience through natural farming adoption.

With a formal state report due within the week and IMCT findings pending submission to the Centre, the pace of Central relief disbursement will be closely watched by farmers and local administrations alike.