Death toll in the severe cyclonic storm 'Hudhud' that battered coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh has mounted to 50 as the government on Saturday renewed appeal for public donation and voluntary service to speed up the massive rebuilding exercise in affected areas. Twelve more deaths have been reported since Friday. Advisor (Communications) to Andhra Pradesh government Parakala Prabhakar told PTI today that 50 people have lost their lives in the cyclone, which struck Visakhapatnam on Sunday last and caused large-scale devastation.
Giving details, he said Visakhapatnam has reported the maximum number of deaths at 36 -- 20 in rural areas and 16 in urban localities -- followed by Vizianagaram (13) and Srikakulam (1). Three people were still missing, he said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu appealed to the people to make generous contribution for rebuilding the affected areas, especially Visakhapatnam, worst-hit by Hudhud."Anyone can contribute to rebuild the (Visakhapatnam) city by way of donation or voluntary service. Students will be involved in a big way in the government's efforts to rebuild the city and also in rescue and relief operations," Naidu told a press conference here.
The CM said he has held meetings with corporates and asked them to come forward and support the government to construct a fishermen's colony for 10,000 families with infrastructure that can withstand a wind speed up to 250 kmph. Chief Secretary I Y R Krishna Rao has also called upon citizens and corporates to contribute liberally and help in massive rehabilitation exercise that is underway in the cyclone-hit districts. Naidu handed over a cheque of Rs 25.50 lakh to one G Ramana, who lost all the five members of his family in a landslide at Modapally under Araku mandal of Visakhapatnam district, where he was on a visit
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