VELLORE: Responding to the appeal made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh for public contribution towards providing relief measures to almost 30 lakh families affected by cyclone Hudhud that also killed 109 people, VIT University here mobilised contributions totalling `1 crore from the students, faculty and management.
A demand draft for the amount was handed over to the Chief Minster in Hyderabad on Thursday by VIT chancellor G Viswanathan. He was accompanied by vice presidents Sankar Viswanathan, Sekar Viswanathan, G V Selvam and assistant vice president Kadambarai.
G Viswanathan said that the damage caused by Hudhud, classified as a severe cyclonic storm, that made its landfall in Visakhapatnam and the neighbouring districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh on October 12, is estimated to be at least `70,000 crore. Additionally, its severity is said to have uprooted 50,000 trees and taken several lives, making it the most destructive cyclone to hit India and the second most destructive in the basin after Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
“We would like to express profound grief at the loss of life, property and crops in Visakhapatnam due to the recent cyclone. The majority of our students at VIT are from Andhra Pradesh and we would like them to know that we are here for them in their time of loss,” he said.
While congratulating the government wholeheartedly for its immediate response and excellent relief measures undertaken on a war footing, he said, “We also want to participate in the relief measures and share the burden of our brethren, and with this contribution we hope some relief will reach the affected.”