Published Nov 06, 2026 | 7:24 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 06, 2026 | 7:24 PM
Naidu walked along field bunds and irrigation channels, speaking to farmers, officials and public representatives.
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday walked from Jillellamudi bridge to Returu village in Guntur and Bapatla districts to assess the damage caused by cyclones Arnab and Murasu, inspecting flooded paddy fields and damaged roads and irrigation channels. He directed officials to repair damaged sluice gates, improve canal maintenance and prepare plans to prevent floodwater from inundating farmland. He also urged farmers to enrol in crop insurance schemes and proposed earlier sowing to avoid the peak cyclone season.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday, 6 November, walked from Jillellamudi bridge to Returu village in Guntur and Bapatla districts, inspecting flood-damaged roads, irrigation channels and submerged paddy fields following heavy rainfall brought by cyclones Arnab and Murasu over the last two weeks.
After an aerial survey from Amaravati, Naidu landed at Suryalanka Air Force Station and reached Jillellamudi, where he inspected the floodwaters near the bridge. He then walked along field bunds and irrigation channels to Returu, speaking to farmers, officials and public representatives about the damage to agricultural land.
At Returu, farmers told him that months of hard work and money borrowed for cultivation had gone to waste as floodwaters submerged their harvest-ready paddy. They said they had taken up cultivation after receiving irrigation water through the Pattiseema project and had expected good yields before Cyclone Murasu destroyed their crops.
Naidu asked farmers about their investment per acre, the extent of land under cultivation, expected yields and enrolment in crop insurance schemes. He also sought details of irrigation problems and crop losses.
Farmers raised the problem of damaged sluice gates on the Nallamada stream at Jillellamudi, which had affected water management in the area.
After reviewing the issue with officials, Naidu ordered immediate repairs to the damaged gates and directed them to prepare proposals for new gates if repairs were insufficient.
He called for a comprehensive plan to prevent floodwaters from inundating agricultural fields and to use the runoff productively instead of allowing it to flow into the sea. He also asked irrigation association representatives to remove silt and weeds from canals and sluices to ensure the free flow of water.
Addressing farmers at Returu, the Chief Minister said cyclones Arnab and Murasu had caused widespread damage across Andhra Pradesh, hitting farmers just as their crops were ready for harvest.
He said irrigation water supplied through Pattiseema during El Niño-induced dry spells had enabled farmers to take up cultivation, but Cyclone Murasu had wiped out their expected gains. He added that precautionary measures taken by the government had prevented much greater damage.
Naidu said crop insurance was the ultimate safeguard for farmers against natural disasters. He said the government was creating awareness to ensure that every farmer enrolled in insurance schemes.
He said crop insurance, along with input subsidies, would provide relief to farmers who lost their investment in cultivation. He directed officials to intensify awareness campaigns on crop insurance.
Naidu also suggested advancing the agricultural season by releasing irrigation water earlier so that farmers could harvest their crops before the peak cyclone season. Completion of the Polavaram project would further help facilitate earlier cultivation, he said.
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Naidu said cyclones Arnab and Murasu had damaged 40,000 electric poles across the State. Of these, 30,000 poles uprooted by Cyclone Arnab had been restored, while work to restore another 10,000 poles damaged by Cyclone Murasu was progressing rapidly.
He said restoration of power supply to aquaculture ponds was being given priority. Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had also extended assistance for cyclone relief operations.
A comprehensive assessment of cyclone losses was under way, he said, adding that the government was making efforts to support affected families. He personally telephoned officials to check whether farmers were receiving timely information on crop-loss assessments and directed them to improve the flow of information to farmers.
Naidu said the government would continue relief work until assistance reached the last affected person. He urged people not to ignore early weather warnings and asked them to remain vigilant. Advance preparations, he said, had reduced property damage and helped speed up relief operations.
He said the Union government was being briefed regularly on the situation and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also enquired about conditions on the ground. Guntur, Bapatla and Prakasam districts had borne the brunt of Cyclone Murasu, he said.
Naidu said coastal districts were dealing with successive cyclones while Rayalaseema was facing severe drought due to El Niño. Central teams had visited Rayalaseema to assess the drought situation.
He pointed to the contrast between large volumes of rainwater flowing into the sea from the coastal districts and shortages of drinking and irrigation water in Rayalaseema. He said water security and efficient water management were priorities for the government and called for comprehensive plans to store floodwaters and divert them to water-scarce regions.
Naidu also took potshots at the previous YSRCP government and said its leaders had inspected cyclone-hit areas after red carpets were rolled out for them. He said his government had placed people’s welfare ahead of local body elections and was directly monitoring relief operations on the ground.
He also said certain elements were trying to trouble the government and that he would address all issues after the local council election results were declared.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
