Centre Lauds AP’s Mana Mitra Initiative In Cyclone Management

Vijayawada:A seven-member Central government team has lauded Andhra Pradesh’s Mana Mitra WhatsApp Governance initiative for its role in disaster management during Cyclone Arnab and said it would recommend that other states adopt a similar model.

The team, led by Union home ministry joint secretary Chitranjan Das, visited the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre at the Secretariat on Saturday to assess cyclone damage and review the state government’s preparedness, response and relief operations.

RTGS secretary Katamneni Bhaskar and CEO Prakhar Jain received the team. Officials made a presentation on the precautionary measures, real-time monitoring, emergency response and rehabilitation efforts undertaken during the cyclone.

Das appreciated the Mana Mitra initiative, through which people in cyclone-affected areas could report grievances and seek emergency assistance through WhatsApp. He said the platform was accessible even to people who could not read or write, as they were familiar with WhatsApp.

He also commended the prompt resolution of public grievances through RTGS and said the team would recommend to the Union government that all states adopt a similar system.

RTGS officials said cyclone warnings had been issued six days in advance through RTGS and the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority. Alerts were sent continuously to 7.23 crore mobile users. Restrictions on public movement and vehicular traffic during landfall helped minimise casualties, they said.

A total of 3,455 control rooms were established at district and mandal levels, while 3,918 nodal officers were deployed to coordinate relief operations. The government set up 2,199 cyclone shelters across 20 districts and shifted 34,716 people to safety.

Sixteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 11 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were deployed in 14 districts. A total of 1,355 ambulances were kept ready, while 3,012 pregnant women were shifted to hospitals as a precaution. Authorities also prevented fishermen from venturing into the sea, keeping 30,043 fishing boats in harbours.

Officials told the team that more than 95 per cent of the cyclone-related grievances received through Mana Mitra had been resolved.

The preliminary assessment put the cyclone damage at Rs 4,764 crore across 12 districts, with Konaseema and West Godavari among the worst-affected areas.

Crops belonging to 4.63 lakh farmers were damaged across 3.52 lakh hectares, while horticultural losses covered another 23,383 hectares. The cyclone also damaged 2,491 km of state roads and affected 7,382 houses. The power sector suffered extensive damage.

Das said the team would make efforts to secure adequate Central assistance for Andhra Pradesh’s recovery and recommend immediate financial support to help the state overcome the disaster.