Puducherry CM seeks ₹50 crore Central aid for Cyclone Arnab relief in Yanam

The Puducherry government has sought an immediate assistance of ₹50 crore from the Centre to carry out relief and restoration work in Yanam, a region of the Union Territory that was affected by Cyclone Arnab. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy made the request in a letter to Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday.

In the letter, the Chief Minister said Cyclone Arnab had caused severe damage to agriculture, housing, electricity and public infrastructure in Yanam. He said the region’s small size and limited resources had left the Union Territory facing a considerable financial burden, making central support essential for timely restoration and rehabilitation.

Yanam is a geographically separated enclave of Puducherry, located within Andhra Pradesh. Its administrative and logistical constraints are often cited in disaster response, as the Union Territory government must mobilise resources across a distance. The Chief Minister said the scale of damage to public assets and livelihoods in the region required immediate central intervention.

According to preliminary assessments cited in the letter, there was a complete loss of paddy crop on around 101 hectares, besides damage to coconut and banana cultivation. Damage was reported to 30 houses and to fishing equipment, including boats. The livelihood of fishermen was also affected by the cyclone.

Electric poles, roads, drinking water installations and government buildings, including the Government General Hospital, suffered damage. The letter said the destruction of public assets and the impact on livelihoods had placed a strain on the Union Territory’s finances.

“Yanam region is a small, geographically-separated enclave with limited resources, and the scale of damage to public assets and livelihoods has placed a considerable financial burden on the Union Territory. Central support is essential for timely restoration and rehabilitation of the affected region,” Mr. Rangasamy said. He requested Mr. Shah’s personal intervention for the release of ₹50 crore as immediate Central financial assistance. The assistance is being sought pending completion of detailed assessments and submission of a comprehensive memorandum as per applicable norms.

Separately, the Chief Minister’s Office said Mr. Shah had earlier in the day spoken to Mr. Rangasamy to take stock of the situation in Yanam. The Home Minister promised to provide all assistance to restore normalcy in the region, according to the message.

The request for interim assistance comes as the Puducherry government begins relief operations in the cyclone-affected region. The funds are expected to support restoration of damaged infrastructure, including power supply, roads and drinking water facilities, and to provide relief to affected farmers and fishermen. The Union Territory has said that a detailed memorandum will be submitted to the Centre after completing full assessments of the damage.

Disaster relief for Union Territories is typically funded through a combination of State Disaster Response Fund allocations and additional central assistance. The Puducherry government’s request highlights the pressure that extreme weather events place on smaller administrative units with limited fiscal room. The Centre’s response to the request for ₹50 crore will be closely watched in Yanam, where restoration of public services and livelihoods is an immediate priority.