Back-to-back cyclones expose gaps in Andhra Pradesh's recovery funding

The brief in 7 cards

1. Note1 / 7

   WHY IN NEWS?

   • Cyclone Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2026 as a very severe cyclonic storm.
   • Cyclone Murasu crossed the south Andhra coast near Ongole on 3 November as a severe cyclonic storm.
   • The two storms caused extensive damage to crops and infrastructure. Arnab alone killed at least seven people in Andhra Pradesh.
   • The events highlight the need for timely Central assistance, effective crop insurance, resilient rebuilding and stronger Centre-State coordination.
2. Note2 / 7

   TWO CYCLONES IN ONE WEEK

   The table compares the two storms. Note that Arnab struck farther north and was stronger.

   Feature	Cyclone Arnab	Cyclone Murasu
   Landfall	28 October, Kakinada–Yanam coast	3 November, near Ongole, Prakasam district
   Intensity at landfall	Very severe cyclonic storm	Severe cyclonic storm, gusts up to 120 km/h
   Deaths in Andhra Pradesh	At least seven	Not yet confirmed
   Crop damage in Andhra Pradesh	About 2.24 lakh hectares in 14 districts	Not yet confirmed
   Estimated loss	About ₹4,600–4,764 crore, per State and Central assessments	Not yet assessed

   More than 1.8 lakh people were evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha before Arnab. About 1.6 lakh were evacuated before Murasu.

3. Note3 / 7

   WHAT IS WORKING

   • Forecasting: IMD's improved cyclone tracking and impact-based warnings allow timely evacuation and resource mobilisation.
   • Fewer deaths: Better warning and evacuation systems have sharply reduced deaths compared with the 1999 Odisha super cyclone, which killed nearly 10,000 people.
   • Real-time governance: Andhra Pradesh's Real Time Governance Society helps monitor and coordinate the response during cyclones.
   • Inter-State help: Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu sent personnel to assist Andhra Pradesh.
4. Note4 / 7

   CHALLENGES IN RECOVERY

   The problems fall into three groups. The table lists each one.

   Area	Challenge
   Farm losses	Repeated storms destroy standing crops just before harvest
   Crop insurance	PM Fasal Bima Yojana faces gaps in enrolment, awareness and claim settlement
   Livelihoods	Cyclones destroy fishing gear, farm assets and rural jobs, hurting poor households most
   Public infrastructure	Roads, bridges, power lines, irrigation and public buildings are damaged, disrupting services
   State finances	Large losses strain the State budget
   Relief versus rebuilding	Immediate relief funds cannot pay for permanent restoration of infrastructure
   Coordination	Fragmented Centre-State and inter-departmental coordination delays rehabilitation
   Scientific capacity	Weak links between universities and agencies limit local vulnerability assessment

5. Note5 / 7

   THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

   India has laws, funds and programmes to manage disasters. The table summarises the main ones.

   Framework	What it does
   Disaster Management Act, 2005	Set up the NDMA, State and district disaster management authorities
   PM Fasal Bima Yojana (2016)	Insures crops against specified risks, including cyclones and floods
   National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project	Builds cyclone shelters, evacuation roads and early-warning systems in coastal States
   15th Finance Commission	Created a dedicated recovery and reconstruction window within the SDRF and NDRF
   Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (2019)	India-led international partnership for disaster-resilient infrastructure
   Sendai Framework (2015–2030)	Global agreement stressing coordinated risk governance and "Build Back Better"

6. Note6 / 7

   WAY FORWARD

   These are the editorial's suggestions, not adopted policy.

   • Improve PMFBY enrolment and use satellite-based crop assessment to speed up claim settlement.
   • States should compensate small farmers for losses that insurance does not cover.
   • The Centre should give dedicated recovery funding for extensive infrastructure damage.
   • Rebuild roads, hospitals and power networks to be cyclone-resistant, following "Build Back Better".
   • Involve IITs, NITs, agricultural universities, IMD and NDMA in risk mapping and predictive modelling.
   • Restore mangroves and coastal wetlands, which reduce storm surges, as the Sundarbans show.
   • Strengthen local disaster committees, mock drills and multilingual warnings, following Odisha's evacuation model.
   • Ensure transparent damage assessment, timely fund releases and resource-sharing between States.
7. Note7 / 7

   

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