Amit Shah calls Andhra CM Naidu on Cyclone Murasu, Centre assures full aid
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh is reeling from two back-to-back cyclones — Arnab and Murasu — and now has the Centre's assurance of full support after Home Minister Amit Shah personally called Chief Minister Naidu. With 500 Karnataka personnel en route and NDRF teams already on the ground, the multi-state relief response signals the severity of the compounded disaster.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah called Andhra Pradesh CM N.
Chandrababu Naidu on 3 November after Cyclone Murasu crossed the AP coast early Tuesday.
NDRF and SDRF teams are already deployed in cyclone-affected areas conducting relief operations.
Andhra Pradesh has been hit by two successive cyclones — Cyclone Arnab followed by Cyclone Murasu — causing widespread crop loss and property damage.
Over 15,000 electricity poles were reportedly uprooted by Cyclone Arnab alone, with power restoration flagged as the most urgent need.
Shivakumar is deploying 500 skilled personnel and equipment to assist; Energy Minister K.J.
George is overseeing coordination.
A central damage-assessment team is on the ground; quantum of financial aid will follow the assessment report.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu over the phone to assess the damage wrought by Cyclone Murasu, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast early that morning. Shah assured Naidu of every possible assistance from the Centre, even as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were already deployed in affected areas.
What Shah Said
Posting on X, Shah said the Government of India stands with the people of Andhra Pradesh with unwavering resolve. 'I assured him that the Central Government will provide all kinds of assistance and support. Already, NDRF and SDRF teams are on the ground, undertaking relief measures and standing as a support for the people in the cyclone-affected areas. The Government of India stands with the people of Andhra Pradesh with a firm resolve to face any kind of situation,' the Home Minister stated.
Back-to-Back Cyclones Batter the State
Chief Minister Naidu briefed Shah on the compounded distress caused by two successive weather events — Cyclone Arnab followed closely by Cyclone Murasu. Naidu outlined extensive crop losses and property damage across multiple districts, and thanked the Centre for dispatching a central assessment team to evaluate the destruction left by Cyclone Arnab. He formally sought adequate financial and logistical assistance for the state to recover from the dual blow.
Notably, successive cyclones striking the same coastline in quick succession amplify damage manifold — compromising infrastructure already weakened by the first storm and stretching state relief machinery thin. The scale of power-infrastructure damage alone — with over 15,000 electricity poles reportedly uprooted by Cyclone Arnab — signals a prolonged restoration timeline.
Karnataka Steps In With Relief Teams
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also extended solidarity, deploying 500 skilled personnel along with necessary equipment to expedite restoration works in Andhra Pradesh. Shivakumar said he personally spoke to Naidu and assured Karnataka's full support. 'Our teams are on their way to Andhra Pradesh to support relief and restoration efforts in the cyclone-affected areas. Karnataka stands with the people of Andhra Pradesh, and we will extend every possible support during this difficult time,' the Karnataka Chief Minister said in a post on X.
Karnataka's Energy Department, under close monitoring by Energy Minister K.J. George, is coordinating the assistance, with a focus on restoring the electricity grid. Naidu posted on X that Karnataka's 'timely support in our hour of need will never be forgotten.'
What Happens Next
Relief and restoration operations are underway across cyclone-affected districts, with NDRF and SDRF teams continuing ground-level interventions. A central government damage-assessment team is expected to compile a comprehensive report on losses from both Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu. The quantum of central financial aid will likely be determined once that assessment is submitted. Power restoration, given the scale of infrastructure damage, is likely to remain the most immediate and visible challenge for authorities in the days ahead.
Point of View
And a single central assessment report may not capture compounded damage adequately. The state's ask for 'adequate assistance' is deliberately broad, signalling that district-level loss tallies are still being compiled. Policymakers must also reckon with the electricity infrastructure question — 15,000-plus poles lost is not just a restoration problem but a signal that coastal grid resilience needs a long-term capital fix, not just post-disaster patching.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cyclone Murasu and when did it hit Andhra Pradesh?
Cyclone Murasu crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast early on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, arriving in the wake of the earlier Cyclone Arnab. The back-to-back cyclones have caused extensive crop loss, property damage, and widespread power outages across multiple districts.
What assurance did Home Minister Amit Shah give to Andhra Pradesh?
Shah called Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and assured him that the Central Government will provide all kinds of assistance and support. He confirmed that NDRF and SDRF teams were already on the ground conducting relief operations.
How is Karnataka helping Andhra Pradesh during the cyclone crisis?
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is deploying 500 skilled personnel along with equipment to assist in relief and restoration. The state's Energy Department, monitored by Energy Minister K.J. George, is specifically coordinating help to restore the electricity grid damaged by the cyclones.
What is the extent of damage caused by the two cyclones in Andhra Pradesh?
While a full assessment is ongoing, reports indicate widespread crop losses and property damage across several districts. Cyclone Arnab alone reportedly uprooted over 15,000 electricity poles, and a central team has been sent to evaluate the damage from both storms.
When will central financial aid be released to Andhra Pradesh?
The quantum of central financial assistance is expected to be determined once the central damage-assessment team compiles its report on losses from both Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu. No specific figure or timeline has been announced yet.
