Cyclone Murasu: Andhra Pradesh CM pegs preliminary damage at ₹1,919 crore

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the damage caused by Cyclone Murasu, according to preliminary estimates, was Rs 1,919 crore. CM Naidu reviewed the post-cyclone situation with officials late on Thursday and directed them to expedite relief and restoration work. He stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted electricity and drinking water supply and repair damaged roads, while ensuring farmers and residents faced no hardship following two consecutive cyclones--Arnab and Murasu. "We will visit cyclone-affected areas in Bapatla and Guntur districts to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Murasu. Preliminary estimates have put the state's losses at around Rs 1,918.5 crore," Naidu said in an official press release late on Thursday. At least eight persons have died in related incidents, officials said. According to the preliminary assessment, agricultural crops were damaged across 1.4 lakh hectares, affecting over 1.8 lakh farmers. Horticultural crops suffe