India
Revenue Minister Urges Rapid Damage Assessment After Cyclone Murasu
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has instructed officials to evaluate the damage to crops, roads, irrigation facilities and electricity infrastructure caused by the heavy rains from Cyclone Murasu in the former undivided Khammam district. The minister asked district collectors to submit detailed estimates of cyclone‑related damage to the government within two to three days. He made the directive while addressing a review meeting with officials from Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts at Sathupalli on Thursday. Earlier that day, he visited rain‑affected areas in Sathupalli and Aswaraopet mandals with local MLAs and officials. Reddy praised the coordinated efforts of the district administration and other departments for preventing loss of life during the heavy rains over the past two days in Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts. He specifically lauded the NDRF and SDRF teams for rescuing stranded fishermen and rescue personnel at Bethupalli Peddacheruvu in Sathupalli mandal. The minister noted that the state government had strengthened the SDRF by training about 1,900 personnel from the police and fire services departments and providing modern rescue equipment at a cost of roughly ₹260 crore to ₹270 crore. He commended the teams for using mobile phone lights and mobile‑tracking technology to locate and rescue those trapped in floodwaters. Reddy also assured that Indiramma houses would be sanctioned to eligible SDRF personnel who did not own houses. Officials briefed the meeting on breaches in several minor irrigation tanks and damage to standing crops, roads and irrigation infrastructure caused by the cyclone‑induced heavy rains in Aswaraopet, Dammapeta, Mulakalapalli, Sathupalli and other mandals in the former undivided Khammam district.