Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Friday assured Andhra Pradesh of 'the necessary assistance' to provide relief to the people of Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts of the State which were struck by cyclone and torrential rain earlier this year. Replying to a calling attention motion on the situation arising from the natural calamities, the Minister said the Centre was also willing to help the State Government reconstruct/strengthen the canal system of the districts affected. Earlier, in his written reply, he detailed the steps taken by the Centre in helping the State Government deal with the calamity that claimed 247 lives and caused extensive damage to infrastructure.