Twin cyclone leave livelihoods in tatters
Cyclones, Arnab and Murasu, which hit the Andhra Pradesh coastline within a span of a week, delivered a severe blow to the fisherfolk communities, coconut and casuarina growers in West Godavari and Konaseema districts, many of whom may have to look for alternative livelihoods for two to three years, writes Nellore Sravani
A devastating cyclone duo has left the livelihoods of coastal communities in the Andhra Pradesh districts of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema and West Godavari in ruins. Coconut trees, a primary source of income for generations, were uprooted and paddy fields destroyed as the storms wreaked havoc from October 28 to November 4. Konaseema suffered the worst, with over 73,500 coconut trees and 1,18,109 acres of paddy fields impacted, leaving thousands of farmers in despair.
West Godavari reported 27,397 coconut trees down and more than 5,000 small-scale growers affected. Cyclone Arnab, classified as a 'Very Severe' storm, hit the coastal areas on October 28 and 29, causing violent gales of up to 150 kmph. The second storm, 'Severe' Cyclonic Storm Murasu, struck on November 3 and 4, followed by heavy rainfall that further exacerbated the damage.
Coastal districts of West Godavari, Konaseema, Bapatla, Guntur, East Godavari, and Palnadu bore the brunt of the cyclones, as reported by the A.P. State Disaster Management Authority.
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