The demand comes close on the heels of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Left parties in Kerala and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy making similar demands to the central government.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday demanded that the Centre declare Kerala floods a national calamity.
The demand comes close on the heels of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Left parties in Kerala and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy making similar demands to the central government.
"The Centre should declare it a national calamity. It's the responsibility of all to restore normalcy in Kerala," Naidu said.
He said Andhra Pradesh has extended an assistance of nearly Rs 50 crore to flood-battered Kerala "through all means, including donations in cash".
Naidu said he spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan twice.
"IAS, IPS, IFS officers; AP Secretariat Employees' Association, NGOs, and several other organizations have come forward to donate one-day wage towards flood relief in Kerala. Andhra MPs and MLCs are donating their one-month basic salary," he said.
Naidu also said that Andhra Pradesh has been receiving heavy rainfall for the past a few days.
According to him, Kunavaram village in East Godavari district received 275.7 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.
Heavy rain lashed East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, and Visakha districts, leading to a flood-like situation, the chief minister said.
He said 16 relief camps have been set up and 6,330 people shifted to safer places in Eluru, Kovvur, Narasapur, and Kukkunur.
Thousands of people in flood-hit areas in Kerala are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched over 300 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8.
In some relief, Kochi Naval airport has started operating commercial flights. The first commercial flight landed at INS Garuda Kochi Naval Air Station on Monday after the closure of the Kochi International airport till August 26 following flooding of the runway and airport areas in the heavy rains.
On Sunday, Union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted that his ministry has advised airlines to cap airfares to a maximum of Rs 10,000 for flights to and from Kerala and nearby airports. Though officially the capping came on Wednesday, on Sunday the ministry tweeted compliance of its directives.
Many are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts.
At Chengannur in Alapuzha district, at least 5,000 are stranded, according to revenue officials. Many people are still stranded as they prefer to be in their homes.
(With PTI inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=tracking}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kerala floods")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}