PM Modi announces Rs 1,000 crore relief for cyclone-hit AP

Death toll in the devastating Hudhud cyclone that battered the Andhra coast mounted to 25 on Tuesday even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for taking up immediate relief works after visiting the city.

Central government officials from various ministries would soon tour the region to assess damage and start work to restore normalcy, Modi said.

He said restoring the basic needs of life like water and electricity were the government’s immediate priorities. “The exact damage will be assessed in due course time. Meanwhile, I announce Rs 1,000 crore as an interim relief,” he said.

“I was jumping with joy until very recently over making Vizag a smart city and now this crisis has hit us... We will soon come out of it. Government in its full strength is standing with the people,” he added.

He said farmers have suffered extensive damage and a detailed survey will evaluate their losses and the government will act accordingly.

Hailing the exact forecast about the cylone made by the India Meteorological Department, the PM said the “perfect” use of technology prepared both Union as well as state governments to deal with the cyclone as from its timing to velocity and direction, all details were predicted accurately in advance.

“In a way, technology has played an important role in dealing with the crisis,” he said.

The natural disaster, Modi said, also saw both the Centre and the state government working “shoulder to shoulder” and it showed however “grave” a problem they can deal with it successfully together.

Insurance companies will be asked to survey the damage and work out claims at the earliest, he said.