Cyclones Arnab, Murasu damage crops on 4.61 million hectares in Andhra, officials say
A farmer shows a damaged paddy field due to heavy rain in Gopalapuram village of Parvathipuram-Manyam district. File | Photo credit: V. Raju
Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials to expedite the enumeration of crop losses due to cyclones Arnab and Murasu and ensure that no eligible farmer is left out of the assessment.
The minister was assessed the damage through a teleconference with leaders of agriculture and horticulture departments on Tuesday (November 10, 2026), who informed that the two cyclones damaged agricultural crops on 4,61,194 hectares and horticultural crops on 29,960 hectares.
According to officials, Cyclone Arnab has affected 3,27,843 hectares or 30.05% of the total cultivated area of 10,90,933 hectares in 15 districts. As many as 5,23,136 farmers were affected, with an estimated production loss of 9,78,091 tonnes, which includes a financial loss of ₹2,392.84 crore.
News in Pictures: Many twists and turns in the monsoon story
Road to recovery: Disaster response workers work to restore a stretch of road washed away by waves in the coastal village of Uppada in Kakinada district after Cyclone Arnab
Against the wind: People brave strong winds and rain as high waves batter the coast in Visakhapatnam on October 27 ahead of Cyclone Arnab.
Waves warning: Beachgoers watch high waves crash along the Visakhapatnam coast on October 27.
Rough ride: A motorist drives through a storm-damaged street in Mangamaripeta, Visakhapatnam, on October 28, a day after Cyclone Arnab brought heavy rain.
Grid down: Thousands of electric poles collapsed in Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema 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 struggles to save their fishing nets after Cyclone Arnab devastated Odalareva village in Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema. Some ships also had to be repaired.
Power restoration: Bengaluru electricians repair damaged power lines near the old bypass road in Ongola, Prakasam district on November 3 after Cyclone Murasu.
Sea in turmoil: Fishermen try to move their boats to safer places along the Pallepalem coast near Kothapatnam as Cyclone Murasu approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast on November 2.
Ahead of the storm: Fishermen carry boat engines and equipment to store under cover as clouds gather over Pallepale coast near Kothapatnam ahead of Cyclone Murasu.
Blown away: Damaged roof of a petrol tank in Chadhalawada village of Prakasam district on November 3 after Cyclone Murasu brought strong winds and heavy rain.
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Dr. BR Ambedkar’s Konaseema district suffered extensive damage, with 99.19% of its cultivated area affected. The estimated financial loss there was ₹348.88 million, 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 in 1,33,351 hectares, which is 23.71% of the total cultivated area of 5,62,445 hectares in 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 assistance requirement was ₹ 321.64 crore under SDRF and ₹ 266.67 crore under NDRF.
The horticulture sector also suffered extensive damage. Cyclone Arnab has affected 23,211.48 hectares in 1,310 villages across 215 mandals in 15 districts and affected 58,990 farmers. Enumeration has been completed for 23,035.08 hectares involving 58,630 farmers, representing 99.24% of the affected area. It was awaiting registration of another 176.40 hectares involving 360 farmers. Fourteen constituencies have completed the exercise while Krishna Constituency recorded 86.67% progress.
Cyclone Murasu damaged 6,748.52 hectares of horticultural crops in 530 villages across 106 mandals in eight districts and affected 12,586 farmers. However, enumeration was completed for only 2,211.73 hectares, which includes 3,392 farmers, or 32.77% of the affected area. Registration of the remaining 4,536.79 hectares involving 9,194 farmers was awaited.
Mr. Atchannaidu instructed the officials to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by both the cyclones at the ground level and identify the unrecorded crop area and affected farmers in the districts. He asked them to speedily complete the enumeration and ensure that every eligible farmer is covered.
Published – 10 Nov 2026 13:26 IST