Hyderabad, Oct 9th: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday announced Rs.1, 000 crore central assistance to Andhra Pradesh for relief and rehabilitation in flood-hit areas. Dr Singh, who undertook an aerial survey of the worst-hit Krishna and Guntur districts, termed the floods a natural calamity. Addressing a press conference PM assured the state government that money would not be a constraint for relief and rehabilitation measures and that all resources would be provided. An amount of Rs.1, 000 crore is straightway being provided as advance to the state so that work, relief and rehabilitation can move forward, he said.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah made a presentation before the prime minister to show the estimated amount of damage that has taken place. The chief minister also submitted a memorandum to the prime minister, seeking an immediate assistance of Rs.6, 000 crore. The memorandum said the floods had caused a loss of Rs.12, 266 crore. 'The central team will come and both the central and state government will work together to assess the exact damage,' he said. 'It is a national calamity in its own way,' was all Manmohan Singh said when asked to react to the state government's demand to declare the floods a national calamity. Dr Singh plans to visit Kurnool and Mahbubnagar besides flood affected areas in Karnataka on Saturday.