Declare Hudhud a national calamity: Congress MP T Subbarami

NEW DELHI: Congress Rajya Sabha MP T Subbarami Reddy today demanded that Hudhud cyclone be declared a "national calamity" and sought central assistance of Rs 2,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him about the situation while urging him to intervene and direct authorities for "expeditious" act in providing relief to people of affected areas.

Reddy hails from Visakhapatnam, which has been the worst hit by the cyclone, causing widespread devastation and loss to property.

"Declare the devastation caused by Hudhud as a national calamity and involve National Disaster Management to immediately take necessary relief measures," he told the PM in his letter.

"A lump sum ad hoc assistance of Rs 2,000 crore should be given to provide immediate relief to cyclone victims and restore services and bring life to normalcy," Reddy said in the letter.