Naidu picks up broom in cyclone-hit Visakhapatnam

Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu Friday picked up a broom to take part in Clean India Mission in this port city battered by a severe cyclone nearly two weeks ago.

Naidu along with his supporters participated in the cleanliness drive on a beach. They removed debris washed ashore by cyclone Hudhud, which hit the coast Oct 12.

The minister stressed the need for turning the cleanliness mission into a people's movement with participation at all levels. He said people should keep their surroundings clean to protect themselves from diseases.

Naidu said the nation-wide mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Oct 2 had received tremendous response.

The union minister is camping here for the past three days.

He announced Thursday that he and his family would adopt a cyclone-affected village in Visakhapatnam district.

He also assured more assistance from the central government for relief and rehabilitation work in cyclone-hit north coastal Andhra.

The cyclone claimed 46 lives in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanaharam and Srikakulam and damaged nearly 9,000 houses and huge tracts of agriculture and horticulture crops.