Cyclone Murasu destroys over 30,000 hectares of crops across Andhra Pradesh

The cyclonic storm inflicted widespread damage across 132 mandals in Andhra Pradesh's 15 districts, prompting authorities to initiate large-scale relief operations. State officials confirmed that paddy, cotton and corn crops sustained the most significant damage, with preliminary assessments documenting losses across 30,661 hectares of standing crops.

In response to the disaster, the state government mobilised substantial resources for rescue and relief efforts. Approximately 10,805 people were evacuated to cyclone shelters as a precautionary measure, while authorities established 171 relief camps and distributed over 14,800 food packets to affected communities.

State and national disaster response teams were deployed to manage the crisis. Eleven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 13 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were positioned for relief operations, complemented by 613 generators to restore power supply. The Fire Department deployed 185 teams to clear uprooted trees and manage water-related hazards across the affected regions.

The cyclone's impact underscores the vulnerability of agricultural zones in coastal and inland Andhra Pradesh districts to severe weather events. Authorities are continuing assessments to determine the full extent of damage and finalise rehabilitation measures for affected farmers.