AP Accelerates Cyclone Damage Assessment as 44,029 Hectares of Crops Hit

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials to speed up the assessment of crop losses caused by the cyclone, heavy rains and flooding across the state. He asked Agriculture and Horticulture Department officials to visit affected areas and ensure that the damage is recorded accurately at the field level. The minister stressed that no affected farmer should be left out of the enumeration process and instructed officials to submit comprehensive district-wise and crop-wise reports to the government at the earliest.

Preliminary assessments indicate that horticultural crops have been affected in 89 mandals across 14 districts, covering 351 villages. Around 1,734 hectares of horticultural crops have suffered damage, affecting an estimated 5,777 farmers. Agricultural crops have been affected across a much larger area, with damage reported in 190 mandals and 1,229 villages. The Agriculture Department has estimated that 44,029 hectares of agricultural crops have been damaged, affecting 71,796 farmers.

Atchannaidu also directed electricity officials to take immediate steps to restore power infrastructure damaged by the cyclone. During a review meeting at his camp office in Nimmada, he instructed officials to repair damaged power poles and transmission lines on a war footing and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to people. He called for 33 kV and 11 kV lines passing over agricultural fields to be shifted wherever necessary and for electricity poles that have come into the middle of roads after CC road construction to be relocated to safer positions.

The minister further asked officials to strengthen 11 kV feeder lines and prepare plans to connect 6.3 kV lines with 11 kV networks to expand the three-phase power system.

In Tekkali, Santhabommali, Kotabommali and Nandigam mandals, officials were directed to accelerate the expansion of three-phase power supply to major villages. Proposals for new substations at Pathamegavaram, Jargangi, Jayyannapeta and Jagatimetta were also sought. He directed officials to establish a 33 kV interlinking line between the Naupada and Borubhadra substations to ensure alternative power supply during emergencies.

The minister said protecting flood-affected paddy fields remains an immediate priority. A team led by Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dr P.V. Satyanarayana inspected affected areas, including H.N. Peta in Santhabommali mandal. Officials and agricultural scientists were asked to implement crop protection and recovery measures as soon as the floodwaters recede.