PM Modi calls Andhra CM Naidu over cyclones Arnab and Murasu damage
Synopsis
Two cyclones in one week — Andhra Pradesh is reeling, and both the Prime Minister and Home Minister have been on the phone with CM Naidu. With ₹343.95 crore in preliminary losses from Cyclone Murasu alone and nearly 70,000 farmers affected, the state is pressing New Delhi for urgent financial relief before full damage assessments are even complete.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi called Andhra Pradesh CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu on 4 November to assess damage from cyclones Arnab and Murasu .
Cyclone Murasu caused a preliminary loss of ₹343.95 crore across eight government departments , with 94% of losses in agriculture.
Crops across 50,473 hectares in 465 villages across 7 districts were damaged, affecting 69,828 farmers .
Bapatla , Krishna , and Guntur districts recorded the most severe crop damage.
480 schools were converted into relief centres and 12,230 people evacuated; 11 SDRF and 13 NDRF teams were deployed on standby.
CM Naidu has formally written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting immediate Central financial assistance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, called Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to inquire about the damage caused by cyclones 'Arnab' and 'Murasu', which struck the state within a single week. The twin cyclones have inflicted heavy losses on agriculture, roads, and power infrastructure across multiple districts.
Scale of Damage
According to an official release, Chief Minister Naidu briefed the Prime Minister on the full extent of the destruction. Cyclone 'Murasu' alone has caused a preliminary loss of ₹343.95 crore across eight government departments, with approximately 94 per cent of that loss occurring in the agricultural sector.
Crops spanning 50,473 hectares across 465 villages in seven districts have been damaged, affecting 69,828 farmers. Of this, 45,900 hectares consist of paddy crops, with the total preliminary agricultural loss estimated at ₹324.22 crore. The districts of Bapatla, Krishna, and Guntur have suffered the most severe crop and horticultural damage.
Centre's Response
Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the state government's effective relief operations and praised Chief Minister Naidu for managing the back-to-back cyclone crises through constant vigilance. The Chief Minister has also written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the Centre to release immediate financial assistance. Shah had separately called Naidu on Tuesday — twice in a single day — to assess the cumulative damage from both cyclones and the ongoing relief situation.
Relief and Evacuation Efforts
Anticipating the cyclone's landfall, the State Disaster Management Authority, the Real-Time Governance Society, and emergency operations centres were placed on high alert. 11 SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams and 13 NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams were kept on standby. A total of 480 schools in affected districts were converted into relief centres, and 12,230 people have been evacuated to safer locations.
What Happens Next
Naidu has formally requested the Central government for financial aid, citing the compounded hardship of two cyclones striking in rapid succession — before the state could fully recover from Cyclone Arnab, Cyclone Murasu arrived. The Centre's response to the financial assistance request is now keenly awaited by both state officials and affected farming communities.
Point of View
But phone calls are not relief funds. Andhra Pradesh's request for Central assistance has been pending since Cyclone Arnab, and the preliminary ₹343.95 crore figure for Murasu alone is almost certainly an undercount given that full agricultural assessments take weeks. The Centre's actual disbursement timeline — not the optics of a phone call — will determine whether nearly 70,000 affected farmers receive timely support before the sowing cycle is irreparably disrupted.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi call Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu?
PM Modi called CM Naidu on 4 November to inquire about the damage caused by cyclones Arnab and Murasu, which struck Andhra Pradesh within a single week. The Prime Minister acknowledged the state government's relief efforts and praised Naidu's management of the back-to-back crises.
How much damage did Cyclone Murasu cause in Andhra Pradesh?
Cyclone Murasu caused a preliminary loss of ₹343.95 crore across eight government departments in Andhra Pradesh, with approximately 94 per cent of that loss in the agricultural sector. Crops across 50,473 hectares in 465 villages across seven districts were damaged, affecting 69,828 farmers.
Which districts in Andhra Pradesh were worst affected by the cyclones?
The districts of Bapatla, Krishna, and Guntur recorded the most severe damage to crops and horticultural produce. Seven districts in total reported crop losses, with paddy crops accounting for 45,900 of the 50,473 damaged hectares.
What relief measures have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh?
The state deployed 11 SDRF teams and 13 NDRF teams on standby, converted 480 schools into relief centres, and evacuated 12,230 people to safer locations. The State Disaster Management Authority and Real-Time Governance Society were placed on high alert ahead of Cyclone Murasu's impact.
Has the Centre agreed to provide financial assistance to Andhra Pradesh?
CM Naidu has formally written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting immediate Central financial aid, citing extensive crop and infrastructure damage. As of 4 November, the Centre's decision on releasing funds is awaited; Modi praised state relief efforts but no disbursement announcement has been made.
