Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said his government has sought central assistance to set up permanent infrastructure along the seacoast to minimise damage caused by cyclones.

Speaking to reporters at Malwan in Sindhudurg district, over 530km from Mumbai, Uddhav said frequent cyclones caused immense damage to crops, property and loss of lives. “We have appealed to the Centre to provide the maximum aid. The Prime Minister is sensitive. We don’t want to indulge in politics,” the chief minister said.

The Centre must provide some assistance, he said, adding that Cyclone Tauktae, which buffeted several parts of Maharashtra earlier this week, had caused extensive harm.

The chief minister earlier in the day toured Ratnagiri, where five talukas, especially Rajaur and Ratnagiri, were severely affected by the cyclone.

Mango, cashew and coconut plantations have been ravaged in Ratnagiri district.

Officials said two persons had died and eight were injured, while 11 animals had been killed in the cyclone in Ratnagiri district. Seventeen homes were fully destroyed and 6,766 partially damaged.

“A total of 370 cattle sheds were damaged, 1,042 trees uprooted, 59 shops and 56 schools damaged. Some 1,100 farmers have lost crops on 2,500 hectares, and power supply in 1,239 villages was impacted, though it has been restored now,” an official said.

Responding to a query on BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis claiming that the chief minister was making political comments while touring cyclone-affected areas, Uddhav said. “I am not the leader of the Opposition. I am not frustrated.”

“I don’t want to indulge in politics. More than a one-time package, I believe in permanent solutions. I want to appeal to the central government to amend the criteria of compensation under the SDRF and NDRF (disaster response funds),” the chief minister said.

He said there was a need for underground cabling along the coast so that electricity outages could be avoided during cyclones, and permanent shelters must be constructed so that people could be smoothly evacuated.

Barge toll 51

The death toll from the sinking of the barge P305 off the Mumbai coast during Cyclone Tauktae rose to 51 on Friday with the recovery of two more bodies from the Arabian Sea.

The navy and the Coast Guard are continuing the search for the 24 still missing from the barge and 11 from the anchor boat Varaprada.