Cyclone 'Montha' Wreaks Havoc in Andhra Pradesh: A Devastation Update

The severe cyclonic storm 'Montha' has left a trail of devastation in Andhra Pradesh, damaging 87,000 hectares of crops, 380 kilometers of roads, and 14 bridges, according to preliminary reports provided to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday.

During a review meeting at the secretariat, officials informed Naidu that paddy, maize, cotton, and black gram crops across 304 mandals were severely affected. The storm left 59,000 hectares waterlogged, adversely impacting 78,796 farmers, as per a press release.

The estimated damage to roads and bridges stands at Rs 1,424 crore, with rural water supply infrastructure incurring losses of Rs 36 crore. As the cyclone affected 18 lakh people in 1,434 villages and 48 towns, a network of 1,209 rehabilitation centres was established, sheltering 1.6 lakh people. Recovery operations are focused on restoring essential services and distributing supplies to those displaced.