Naidu Announces Rs.10 Lakh Ex-gratia for Each Andhra Victim’s Family

Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday announced an ex gratia payment of Rs.10 lakh to the families of each of the two Pahalgam terror attack victims from Andhra Pradesh. Condemning the incident, Naidu urged citizens to serve as vigilant intelligence sources to guard against such incidents in future. He expressed solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this hour of a national crisis.

Naidu paid tributes to Chandra Mouli, a Visakhapatnam resident and Somisetti Madhusudhan Rao from Kavali town in Nellore district, who lost their lives in Tuesday’s terror attack in Pahalgam. In the evening, the Chief Minister received the mortal remains of Chandramouli at Visakhapatnam airport, where he offered floral tributes and consoled the bereaved family. Accompanied by Union minister Rammohan Naidu, state home minister Vangalapudi Anitha and Visakhapatnam MP Sribharat, the Chief Minister walked alongside the decorated funeral vehicle for a distance. He joined the chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" through the streets at the head of the funeral



cortege.

Addressing the media, the CM provided details about the tragic incident. Chandra Mouli, a retired employee, was part of a group of three couples vacationing in Kashmir. Terrorists specifically targeted men while sparing women, suggesting a well-planned attack. Chandra Mouli was reportedly separated from others when he visited a restroom. He was killed with AK-47 gunfire while other family members managed to escape.

Relatives of Madhusudhan Rao said the terrorists confirmed Rao religion before shooting him pointblank even as Kamakshi pleaded with them to spare him. Naidu said, “This attack on Kashmir, which holds a special place in every Indian’s heart, is particularly disturbing. Over the past 4-5 years, the Kashmir region had been experiencing peace, development and growing employment opportunities.” The Chief Minister condemned the attack in strong terms, asserting that such incidents would undermine India’s strengths and resolve. “We have tremendous power and equipment to respond,” he stated.