The central government has sanctioned an additional ₹341.48 crore to Andhra Pradesh as financial aid. This allocation is designated for losses incurred due to 'Cyclone Montha', which struck the state previously. The disbursement comes from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
This tranche of aid is part of a larger central assistance package amounting to ₹1,912.99 crore, approved by a High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Several other states also received funds from this aggregate amount, including Chhattisgarh (₹15.70 crore), Gujarat (₹778.67 crore), Himachal Pradesh (₹288.39 crore), Nagaland (₹158.41 crore), and Jammu and Kashmir (₹330.34 crore).
This recent sanction is distinct from and in addition to funds already disbursed under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The government has also released substantial sums under disaster mitigation funds: ₹5,373.20 crore to 23 states from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) and ₹1,189.56 crore to 21 states from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). A total of ₹3,628.18 crore has been released to 21 states under the NDRF.
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Context of Cyclone Montha
Cyclone Montha made landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, 2025, near Machilipatnam in the Krishna district. The storm brought wind speeds estimated around 65-83 km/h, with some forecasts suggesting higher peaks, and approximately 82.3 mm of rainfall between October 27-29, which was about nine times the seasonal average.
The cyclone's impact was significant:
Over 4,500 houses and nearly 1,900 schools reportedly sustained damage.
Close to 4,800 km of roads were affected.
Crops across more than 1.6 lakh acres and fish ponds spanning over 3,000 hectares were ruined.
The storm resulted in three fatalities and necessitated the evacuation of over one lakh residents.
The state's initial loss estimate of ₹5,265 crore was revised upwards to ₹6,384 crore after a comprehensive assessment of the damages. The cyclone affected 3,109 villages, with reported losses totaling ₹6,352 crore.
Earlier in December of the preceding year, Andhra Pradesh ministers Nara Lokesh and Vangalapudi Anitha had presented a report detailing the damage caused by Cyclone Montha to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, seeking central assistance.
