'Chase-master' Sisodia lead from front as Andhra Pradesh battles Cyclone Montha fury

VIJAYAWADA: Senior-most bureaucrat—special chief secretary RP Sisodia has once again emerged as the real “chase-master” in the state’s cyclone relief and rescue operations. As zonal in-charge to oversee response efforts on the ground, Sisodia has been on relentless field visits, pushing the district administrations into high gear as Cyclone Montha wreaked havoc across coastal and central Andhra.

RP Sisodia, who is in charge of West Godavari, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore and Chittoor districts, has covered almost six districts in less than 24 hours, reviewing evacuation, shelter, and restoration measures. Known for his meticulous style of functioning, Sisodia moved from one control room to another — holding meetings with collectors, inspecting relief camps, and personally monitoring power restoration works and supply of essentials to affected families. His dynamic presence in the field has been widely credited with instilling a sense of urgency among the local machinery.



Curiously, Sisodia, has never let down the govt, despite the fact that he was given an insignificant position during the previous shuffling of senior officials. He took the charge as special chief secretary revenue and disaster management soon after Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA govt returned to power about 18 months ago. He was Naidu’s go to the man to unravel the land scams of previous YSRCP regime. He had also played a proactive role in bringing the land reforms and unearthing the free-hold land scam of the previous regime. Surprisingly, the govt relegated him to the insignificant textile department from the prominent revenue. However, Sisodia, swung into action once again and proved his metal during the crisis hour.

Similarly, Ajay Jain, who has been entrusted with Srikakulam to East Godavari stretch — the worst-hit by Cyclone Montha — has been equally swift and hands-on. Within hours of the cyclone’s landfall, Jain coordinated with energy, roads, and water supply departments to expedite restoration. He visited several marooned villages, interacted with displaced families, and supervised the repair of disrupted power and communication lines. His continuous presence in the coastal zone ensured that relief distribution and damage assessment began without delay. While Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been monitoring the overall situation through Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) in Amaravati, the field-level command by Sisodia and Jain brought visible results. Officials said the proactive monitoring by the two special chief secretaries helped bridge critical administrative gaps and reduce damages to life and property to the minimum possible level.

Interestingly, it was administration boss and chief secretary Vijayanand, who brought the smiles back on to the administration by closely monitoring the electricity supply restoration across the state. His personal coordination with discoms, revenue, and panchayat departments helped accelerate power restoration in cyclone-hit areas. As the state now shifts focus from emergency response to rehabilitation, Sisodia and Jain continue to guide the district administrations, ensuring that no village or household is left unattended in the wake of Cyclone Montha.