CHENNAI: Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Monday announced a financial assistance of `5 crore for cyclone-ravaged Andhra Pradesh and in the first phase, deputed rescue teams comprising engineers, road inspectors and road maintenance workers along with necessary equipment. The teams would clear uprooted trees on the roads to restore connectivity wherever necessary.
With a view to set right the electricity infrastructure in the neighbouring state, 100 transformers, 5,000 electric polls, 10,000 insulators and other electric equipment would be despatched immediately, he said in a statement issued after a high-level meeting held at the Secretariat.
The Chief Minister said soon after the cyclone hit many areas, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu had contacted him and requested for immediate despatch of electrical equipment. Consequent to this, the meeting attended by senior Ministers and top officials of various departments discussed all possible ways to help the cyclone-hit neighbouring State.
The Hudhud cyclone which crossed near Visakhapatnam on October 12, had left thousands of trees and electric poles uprooted. Telephone poles were also destroyed by the strong winds and as a result, normal life remains affected.
Observing that Tamil Nadu had been in the forefront to extend monetary assistance and other help in rescue operations to the States which were affected by natural calamities, the Chief Minister recalled that recently, former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had extended Rs.Five crore to Jammu and Kashmir which was severely affected by floods.