Cyclones Arnab, Murasu damage crops across 4.61 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh
Synopsis
Two cyclones in quick succession — Arnab and Murasu — have collectively damaged crops across 4.61 lakh hectares in Andhra Pradesh, inflicting an estimated ₹3,209 crore in agricultural losses and leaving over 7 lakh farmers scrambling for relief. With enumeration still incomplete for Murasu-affected horticultural areas, the true toll could climb further.
Key Takeaways
Cyclones Arnab and Murasu damaged crops across a combined 4,61,194 hectares in Andhra Pradesh , as confirmed on 10 November 2026 .
Cyclone Arnab alone affected 5,23,136 farmers across 15 districts , causing a financial loss of ₹2,392.84 crore and a production loss of 9,78,091 tonnes .
Ambedkar Konaseema district was worst hit, with 99.19 per cent of cultivated land damaged and losses of ₹348.88 crore .
Cyclone Murasu damaged crops across 1,33,351 hectares in nine districts , affecting 1,86,269 farmers with losses of ₹816.53 crore .
Combined SDRF and NDRF requirements from both cyclones exceed ₹2,100 crore .
Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials to expedite enumeration so no eligible farmer is left out of relief.
Agricultural crops spanning 4,61,194 hectares across Andhra Pradesh were damaged by back-to-back cyclones 'Arnab' and 'Murasu', officials confirmed on Tuesday, 10 November. Horticultural crops across an additional 29,960 hectares also sustained damage, compounding the agrarian crisis in the state.
Cyclone Arnab: Scale of Destruction
Under the impact of Cyclone Arnab, crops over 3,27,843 hectares were damaged across 15 districts, affecting 5,23,136 farmers. The damaged area represented 30.05 per cent of the 10,90,933 hectares under cultivation in those districts. Officials estimated a production loss of 9,78,091 tonnes, translating into a financial loss of ₹2,392.84 crore.
The worst-hit district was Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, where a staggering 99.19 per cent of the cultivated area was damaged, affecting 94,808 farmers and causing a financial loss of ₹348.88 crore in that district alone. The estimated relief requirements stand at ₹815.57 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹714.96 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Cyclone Murasu: Additional Blow to Nine Districts
Cyclone Murasu struck crops across 1,33,351 hectares in nine districts, affecting 1,86,269 farmers. The damaged area accounted for 23.71 per cent of the total cultivated area of 5,62,445 hectares. Financial losses are estimated at ₹816.53 crore, with a production shortfall of 3,38,302 tonnes. SDRF and NDRF requirements are pegged at ₹321.64 crore and ₹266.67 crore, respectively.
Horticultural Losses and Enumeration Status
On the horticultural front, Cyclone Arnab damaged 23,211.48 hectares of crops across 215 mandals and 1,310 villages in 15 districts, affecting 58,990 farmers. Enumeration has been completed for 23,035.08 hectares — roughly 99.24 per cent — covering 58,630 farmers. The remaining 176.40 hectares involving 360 farmers is still pending, with Krishna district yet to reach full enumeration at 86.67 per cent.
Cyclone Murasu damaged 6,748.52 hectares of horticultural crops across 106 mandals and 530 villages in eight districts, affecting 12,586 farmers. Notably, enumeration has been completed for only 2,211.73 hectares — just 32.77 per cent — with 9,194 farmers covering 4,536.79 hectares still awaiting registration.
Minister's Directions and Next Steps
State Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu reviewed the damage during a teleconference with senior officials on Tuesday morning. He directed officials to conduct a comprehensive field-level assessment of losses caused by both cyclones and to prepare district-wise data on remaining crop areas and unregistered farmers. Atchannaidu emphasised that the enumeration process must be expedited to ensure no eligible farmer is excluded from relief. This comes amid broader concerns about the pace of compensation under the SDRF and NDRF frameworks, which critics have often cited as slow in reaching affected cultivators. With combined SDRF and NDRF requirements from both cyclones exceeding ₹2,100 crore, pressure on state and central disaster response machinery is set to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
A pattern that is becoming harder to dismiss as anomalous. The fact that enumeration for Murasu's horticultural damage stands at barely 32.77 per cent raises a familiar concern: relief frameworks in India consistently lag the pace of disaster. With SDRF and NDRF requirements collectively crossing ₹2,100 crore, the speed at which the Centre processes state relief requests will be the real test — not the teleconferences. Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema's near-total crop loss, at 99.19 per cent, demands immediate prioritisation rather than being folded into aggregate district tallies.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much crop area was damaged by cyclones Arnab and Murasu in Andhra Pradesh?
A combined total of 4,61,194 hectares of agricultural crops were damaged by cyclones Arnab and Murasu in Andhra Pradesh, as reported on 10 November 2026. Horticultural crops across an additional 29,960 hectares also sustained damage.
How many farmers were affected by the two cyclones?
Cyclone Arnab affected 5,23,136 farmers across 15 districts, while Cyclone Murasu affected 1,86,269 farmers across nine districts, bringing the combined toll to over 7 lakh farmers across the state.
What is the total financial loss estimated from cyclone damage in Andhra Pradesh?
The financial loss from Cyclone Arnab is estimated at ₹2,392.84 crore, while Cyclone Murasu caused an estimated ₹816.53 crore in losses, putting the combined agricultural loss at approximately ₹3,209 crore.
Which district in Andhra Pradesh was most severely affected?
Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district suffered the highest proportional damage, with 99.19 per cent of its cultivated area destroyed by Cyclone Arnab, affecting 94,808 farmers and causing a financial loss of ₹348.88 crore.
What relief funds are being sought for the affected farmers?
The combined SDRF and NDRF requirements for both cyclones exceed ₹2,100 crore. For Cyclone Arnab alone, the state has estimated SDRF requirements of ₹815.57 crore and NDRF requirements of ₹714.96 crore. Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials to expedite farmer enumeration to ensure timely disbursal.
