Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila on Thursday demanded that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre declare Cyclone Montha a national calamity and immediately release adequate financial assistance to help Andhra Pradesh implement relief operations.
“The cyclone has caused unprecedented devastation and more than 20 lakh acres of land is submerged. In the kharif season, 30% of the crop yield has been lost and around 10 lakh farming families have been displaced,” she posted on X.
Stating that the total loss to farmers was estimated at over ₹20,000 crore, she said a special Central team should be sent to assess the damage. She said while damage reports are being compiled, the Centre should immediately announce ₹10,000 crore in aid for the State.
Ms. Sharmila accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of under-reporting the damage by claiming that crops in only 2.88 lakh acres were lost, while the real figure was 20 lakh acres. She said Mr. Naidu’s act was tantamount to “betrayal” of the farmers.
Published – October 30, 2025 08:19 pm IST
