Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Friday that preliminary estimates have placed the total economic damage caused by Cyclone Murasu at approximately ₹1,918.5 crore. The state administration is currently grappling with the aftermath of the severe weather event, which crossed the Andhra coast earlier this week between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole. In a high-level review meeting held late Thursday, the Chief Minister directed officials to prioritize the restoration of essential services, specifically focusing on electricity, drinking water, and road connectivity to mitigate the hardship faced by residents.
The impact of the cyclone has been widespread, affecting 59 mandals and 649 gram panchayats across the state. Tragically, officials confirmed that eight people lost their lives in incidents related to the cyclone, including five in the Bapatla district, two in Guntur, and one in Palnadu. To support immediate relief efforts on the ground, the state government has already released ₹37 crore to the affected districts. Coordination has been bolstered by the deployment of 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, 11 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, and 390 fire service personnel, who have been conducting rescue and relief operations since the onset of the storm.
Agricultural and horticultural sectors have sustained significant damage. According to initial assessments, standing crops across 1.4 lakh hectares were damaged, impacting over 1.8 lakh farmers. Furthermore, horticultural crops spread over 6,749 hectares were affected, causing distress for 12,586 farmers. Beyond the fields, the cyclone damaged 983 houses, 346 boats, and 220 fishing nets, highlighting the severe blow dealt to the local rural economy. Officials noted that a final, accurate assessment of these losses is expected to take between 48 to 72 hours, once floodwaters recede significantly from the affected farmlands.
Infrastructure damage also remains a primary concern for the state government. The Roads and Buildings Department reported that 760 km of major district roads and state highways were damaged, while the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department identified damage to 74 rural roads, with restoration costs estimated at ₹92 crore. Power infrastructure also took a hit; the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Ltd (APCPDCL) reported damage to 3,946 electricity poles. However, restoration is progressing rapidly, with 871 of the 1,103 affected 11-kV feeders already back in operation. All identified blockages in drainage systems have been cleared to prevent further waterlogging.
Telecom services have seen substantial recovery, with 30,518 out of 31,428 towers reported operational by Thursday, marking a 97 percent restoration rate. While connectivity has largely returned, the government is focusing on remaining outages in Bapatla, Prakasam, and West Godavari districts. CM Naidu has emphasized the need for proactive measures, especially as the state grapples with the aftermath of two consecutive cyclones, Arnab and Murasu. During the review, it was noted that roughly 5.8 crore advance warning messages were disseminated to the public, facilitating timely alerts.
As restoration continues, the state remains vigilant regarding the status of water levels in major reservoirs and canals. Officials are actively monitoring floodwater flows to ensure public safety in vulnerable areas. The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit cyclone-affected regions in Bapatla and Guntur to conduct a firsthand assessment of the devastation and the ongoing recovery process, ensuring that the necessary resources are effectively allocated to those in need.
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