Naidu pushes rapid power repair and price caps after Cyclone Murasu

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday ordered officials to speed up relief and power restoration in the wake of Cyclone Murasu hitting Andhra Pradesh. He told officers to finish damage assessments quickly and to give prompt cash help to families. The review meeting in his camp office covered power repair, supply of essentials and crop loss checks. Officials reported that 92% of horticultural crop damage assessment is done, and the agricultural crop survey will be finished by Nov 9. About 30,000 poles damaged in Cyclone Arnav have already been fixed and power is back in all villages affected by that storm. For Cyclone Murasu, work is under way in 1,825 villages and 7,850 broken poles have been repaired so far. The Civil Supplies Department says essential items have reached 3.82 lakh families. To stop price spikes, onions are being sold at ₹35 per kg in Rythu Bazaars, with 8,000 quintals procured. Rice is offered at fixed rates between ₹47 and ₹82 per kg, and cases have been filed against 204 traders for breaking the rules. Subsidised rice is sold through 150 counters, with 27,430 quintals moved, helping 1.03 lakh families. Plans are also in place to provide palm oil at ₹125 per litre, red gram dal at ₹100 per kg and wheat flour at ₹25 per kg through ration shops.

Context

Cyclones frequently damage power lines, crops and market supplies in coastal states. State governments usually launch fast‑track repair work and set price caps to protect vulnerable households. The measures announced aim to keep staple food affordable while families rebuild their farms and homes.