Union Home Minister Amit Shah Reviews Cyclone Arnab Impact, Assures Full Central Support

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation arising from Cyclone Arnab on Thursday, holding discussions with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. According to official communications, the central government has assured all necessary assistance to mitigate public hardship.

In Andhra Pradesh, the cyclone caused severe damage in coastal districts through strong winds and heavy rainfall. Reports indicate at least nine fatalities in the state. Authorities evacuated over 20,000 individuals, and crop damage was reported across approximately two lakh hectares. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has formally requested central assistance.

Relief Operations and Deployment

• Rescue Teams: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were deployed to conduct rescue and relief operations.
• Damage Assessment: Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) are scheduled to visit affected regions to evaluate the impact and determine further requirements.
• Regional Impact: While Odisha reported 17 affected districts with no casualties, heavy rainfall continued in Jharkhand, prompting orange alerts across six districts until Friday morning.

Verification and Safety Measures

Residents in affected areas are advised to follow advisories issued by local disaster management authorities. Official updates and rescue coordination notices can be verified through announcements by state disaster departments and government portals.