Cyclones Arnab and Murasu damaged crops on 4.61 lakh hectares in Andhra, say officials

A farmer showing the damaged paddy due to heavy rain at Gopalapuram village in Parvathipuram-Manyam district. File | Photo Credit: V. Raju Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials to expedite the enumeration of crop losses caused by Cyclones Arnab and Murasu and ensure that no eligible farmer is left out of the assessment.Reviewing the damage with senior officials of the Agriculture and Horticulture departments through a teleconference on Tuesday (November 10, 2026), the Minister was informed that the two cyclones had damaged agricultural crops on 4,61,194 hectares and horticultural crops on 29,960 hectares.According to officials, Cyclone Arnab affected 3,27,843 hectares, or 30.05% of the total cultivated area of 10,90,933 hectares across 15 districts. As many as 5,23,136 farmers were affected, while the estimated production loss stood at 9,78,091 tonnes, involving a financial loss of ₹2,392.84 crore.News in Frames: Many twists in the monsoon’s taleRoad to recovery: Disaster response personnel work to restore a stretch of road washed away by waves at Uppada coastal village in Kakinada district after Cyclone ArnabAgainst the wind: People brave strong winds and rain as high waves batter the shore in Visakhapatnam on October 27, ahead of Cyclone Arnab.Waves of warning: Visitors to the beach watch high waves crashing along the Visakhapatnam coast on October 27. Rough ride: A motorist navigates a storm-battered street at Mangamaripeta in Visakhapatnam on October 28, a day after Cyclone Arnab brought heavy rain. Grid down: Thousands of electric poles collapsed in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district after Cyclone Arnab made landfall near Bendamurlanka on October 28. More than 10,000 new poles are being installed across the district. Picking up the pieces: A family tries to salvage its fishing nets after Cyclone Arnab devastated Odalarevu village in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district. Some boats also had to be repaired. Restoring power: Electricity workers from Bengaluru repair damaged power lines near the Old Bypass Road in Ongole, Prakasam district, on November 3, following Cyclone Murasu. Sea in turmoil: Fishermen try to move their boats to safer spots along the Pallepalem coast near Kothapatnam as Cyclone Murasu nears the Andhra Pradesh coastline on November 2. Before the storm: Fishermen carry boat engines and equipment to store under cover as the clouds gather over Pallepalem coast near Kothapatnam ahead of Cyclone Murasu. Blown away: The damaged roof of a petrol bunk at Chadhalawada village in Prakasam district on November 3, after Cyclone Murasu brought strong winds and heavy rain. 1/3Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district suffered extensive damage, with 99.19% of its cultivated area affected. The estimated financial loss there was ₹348.88 crore, affecting 94,808 farmers. The relief requirement was estimated at ₹815.57 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹714.96 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).Cyclone Murasu damaged crops on 1,33,351 hectares, accounting for 23.71% of the total cultivated area of 5,62,445 hectares across nine districts. The disaster affected 1,86,269 farmers, with an estimated production loss of 3,38,302 tonnes and a financial loss of ₹816.53 crore. The estimated relief requirement was ₹321.64 crore under the SDRF and ₹266.67 crore under the NDRF.The horticultural sector also suffered extensive damage. Cyclone Arnab affected 23,211.48 hectares in 1,310 villages across 215 mandals in 15 districts, impacting 58,990 farmers. Enumeration had been completed for 23,035.08 hectares, covering 58,630 farmers, accounting for 99.24% of the affected area. Registration of another 176.40 hectares involving 360 farmers was pending. Fourteen districts had completed the exercise, while Krishna district had recorded 86.67% progress.Cyclone Murasu damaged 6,748.52 hectares of horticultural crops in 530 villages across 106 mandals in eight districts, affecting 12,586 farmers. However, enumeration had been completed for only 2,211.73 hectares, covering 3,392 farmers, or 32.77% of the affected area. Registration of the remaining 4,536.79 hectares involving 9,194 farmers was pending.Mr. Atchannaidu instructed officials to conduct a comprehensive field-level assessment of the damage caused by both cyclones and identify the unrecorded crop area and affected farmers district-wise. He asked them to complete the enumeration expeditiously and ensure that every eligible farmer was covered. Published - November 10, 2026 01:26 pm IST