Normalcy slowly returns to Cyclone Arnab-hit areas of Andhra Pradesh, damage pegged at Rs 4,600 crore

Hyderabad: Normal life is gradually returning in most areas of Andhra Pradesh battered by Cyclone Arnab, with only a few pockets still recovering. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has told officials not to rest until normalcy is restored everywhere, reviewed the situation on Thursday in a teleconference with departmental officials and district collectors. He later toured the affected areas in Konaseema.

Officials said 85 areas across 10 municipalities in eight districts were affected, and normalcy has been restored in 71 areas across seven municipalities. Trees and electric poles that had fallen on roads have been cleared completely, and drinking water is being supplied through generators where power was cut. Some areas in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts continued to receive rain on Thursday, and a few pockets remained inundated. Visakhapatnam, however, was largely spared, as were other affected areas in Konaseema and the Godavari districts. Crops over thousands of hectares remained…