Helping hand: On Cyclones Arnab and Murasu
The Hindu - Editorial · Published 5 November 2026 · Last updated
Back-to-back cyclones Arnab and Murasu along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts highlight the critical role of technology in minimising casualties, while exposing persistent gaps in crop insurance and post-disaster recovery funding.
Key points
- Cyclone Arnab made landfall on October 28 along the Andhra Pradesh coast, causing damage estimated at roughly ₹4,526 crore.
- Cyclone Murasu crossed the coast on November 3, affecting about 52,500 hectares of standing crops in Andhra Pradesh.
- The State reported 12 deaths in total from the back-to-back impacts of cyclones Arnab and Murasu.
- The first cyclone damaged nearly 90,000 hectares of standing crops in the southern parts of Odisha.
- Rescue personnel from Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu were deployed to assist disaster response efforts in Andhra Pradesh.
- The deployment of the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) and other technologies significantly reduced human casualties and property damage compared to past events like Cyclone Hudhud in October 2014.
- The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched a decade ago, has failed to provide farmers with comprehensive safety cover against extreme weather vagaries.
- The 15th Finance Commission prompted the Union government two years ago to add recovery and reconstruction as a component of the National and State Disaster Response Funds.
Background
- October 2014: Cyclone Hudhud struck Andhra Pradesh, causing 63 deaths and staggering damage estimated at nearly ₹22,000 crore.
- Two years ago: Following a nudge from the 15th Finance Commission, the Centre expanded the mandate of disaster response funds to include recovery and reconstruction alongside immediate relief.
- A decade ago: The Union government launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) as a central crop insurance scheme.
- October 28, 2026: Cyclone Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, initiating widespread infrastructural and agricultural losses.
- November 3, 2026: Cyclone Murasu crossed the coast, compounding damages on standing crops across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
UPSC relevance, Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: The Hindu - Editorial