“Farmers Won’t Be Left Alone”: Pawan Kalyan Pledges Relief after Cyclone Montha Devastation

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on October 30, 2025, walked barefoot through muddied fields in Avanigadda constituency to inspect the devastation wrought by Cyclone Montha, consoling distraught farmers and pledging comprehensive state support for relief, compensation, and rehabilitation. Accompanied by Ministers Vasamsetty Subash and Kollu Ravindra, MP Vallabhaneni Balasowry, and MLA Mandali Budda Prasad, he assessed crop losses totalling 1.38 lakh hectares statewide, with 46,000 hectares ravaged in Krishna district alone—primarily paddy fields flattened by winds gusting up to 110 kmph and torrential rains. The severe cyclonic storm made landfall near Kakinada on October 28, claiming two lives, displacing over 1.16 lakh people into relief camps, and inflicting an estimated Rs 5,265 crore in damages across roads, aquaculture, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Kalyan highlighted Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's proactive measures—24/7 monitoring via RTGS and video conferences—that minimised casualties through early evacuations and coordinated responses from NDRF and SDRF teams. Restoration efforts are underway on a war footing: 274 km of rural roads face permanent rebuilding, while super chlorination and sanitation drives in 1,583 villages, backed by 21,055 workers, aim to avert disease outbreaks. Families in camps receive free ration kits (25-50 kg rice, pulses, vegetables, and oil) and up to Rs 3,000 cash per household before discharge.

Specific interventions include Rs 13.08 crore for reconstructing the Eedurumondi-Gollamanda road, benefiting five island villages, and NABARD funding for the damaged outfall sluice near Koduru Mandal. Kalyan assured every affected farmer full compensation once detailed surveys conclude, with plans to seek central assistance from the Union government. The visit resonated deeply, with emotional farmers embracing the deputy CM amid viral videos of his hands-on empathy.

Also Read: Cyclone Montha: Heavy Rains and Gale Winds Lash Coastal Andhra After Landfall Near Antarvedi

Participating officials like APSRTC Chairman Konakalla Narayan Rao, Tourism MD Amrapali, Collector D.K. Balaji, and SP Vidyasagar Naidu underscored the administration's commitment. While opposition voices labelled the tour a "PR stunt", supporters hailed Kalyan's grounded approach as a hallmark of his farmer-centric politics. As Andhra Pradesh tallies losses—Rs 829 crore to agriculture alone—the state eyes swift recovery, blending local resolve with federal aid to rebuild resilient coastal communities.

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