Declare 'Hudhud' a "national calamity", says Chiranjeevi

Hyderabad, Oct 15: Congress Rajya Sabha member K Chiranjeevi today asked the Centre to declare cyclone 'Hudhud', which has caused large-scale devastation in Andhra Pradesh's north coastal districts, as a "national calamity".

The former Union Minister also said he has donated Rs 50 lakh from his MP Local Area Development Scheme to cyclone relief fund. 'Hudhud', which hit the coastal districts on Sunday last, has claimed 26 lives till now.

"There is an estimate Visakhapatnam alone has incurred damage to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore. Some Government departments have unofficially pegged the combined losses in districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and parts of East Godavari at around Rs 1 lakh crore.

Though the loss to human lives is minimal, the overall damage has been huge," the filmstar-turned-politician said in a statement here. All sections of people in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts have been hit hard by the natural disaster.

However, poor, middle-class, farmers, fishermen and daily-wage workers have suffered the maximum loss, he said. The Central and State Governments should make a scientific assessment of the destructive impact of 'Hudhud' so as to help all the victims, Chiranjeevi said.

The interim assistance of Rs 1,000 crore announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Andhra Pradesh was "insufficient", the Congress MP maintained. Chiranjeevi said he wants the Prime Minister to classify 'Hudhud' as a "national calamity" and the TDP-BJP Government in the State should also push for the same.

Such as tag generally means speedy release of Central funds and faster relief and rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas. The popular actor also asked his fans to take part in cyclone relief activities.

PTI