Cyclone Titli: Andhra CM urges PM to allocate Rs 1200 cr

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to release an interim relief of Rs 1200 crore for the damages caused to the life, property and infrastructure in the state due to cyclone Titli.

Naidu sought financial relief saying that the devastating cyclone, which hit North Coastal Andhra Pradesh on October 11, has badly damaged the infrastructure and derailed normal life in the region especially in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of the state.

"The severe cyclonic storm Titli has hit Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts in the early hours of October 10 with a wind speed gusting up to 165 kilometres, coupled with high velocity winds and heavy rainfall ranging from 10 centimetres to 43 centimetres in different parts of these districts. The cyclone Titli has devastated these districts and left huge damages to properties, agriculture and horticulture crops, houses and infrastructure resulting in deep distress and misery to the people of these districts," the letter said.

Naidu further said that the cost of the damaged properties, infrastructure and other related sectors has been tentatively worked out to be around Rs 2800 crore.

"The State Government has already started rescue and relief operations on war footing and I am personally camping in these districts, visiting the affected areas and supervising rescue, relief and restoration operations," the chief minister's letter read.

"In view of the severe damage occurred to the life, property and infrastructure of the people of these districts, I request the Government of India to liberally and expeditiously sanction the relief so as to minimise the misery of the people. As an interim relief an amount of Rs 1200 crore may kindly be released," it added.

On Thursday, severe cyclonic storm, swirling over the Bay of Bengal, intensified into the 'very severe' category and made a landfall in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone left at least eight people dead in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh.