New Delhi, Oct 12 : The politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded that the floods in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka be declared a national calamity.

In a statement, the politburo expressed its deep concern over the devastation caused by the floods.

The floods have wrecked havoc in northern parts of Karnataka, described by officials as the worst in many decades, killing over 280 people besides rendering several thousands homeless.

In Andhra Pradesh, the River Tungabhadra, which flows from Karnataka and joins the River Krishna has left at least five million people homeless.

The floodwaters have swamped hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and damaged standing crops of sugarcane, maize, rice and wheat.

The loss of sugarcane has given rise to worries of a sharp fall in the output of sugar in Karnataka, the country''s third-biggest producer.

The CPI (M) also criticised the decision to send a delegation of Members of Parliament (MPs) from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka without taking MPs from opposition parties.

The delegation comprises four DMK MPs-T R Baalu, Kanimozhi, T K S Elangovan, A K S Vijyan, Helen Davidson, Congress MPs Sudarsana Nachiappan, N S V Chittan, J M Haron Rashid and K S Azhagiri and VCK MP Thol Thirumavalavan.

Around 300,000 Sri Lankan Tamils were displaced in the final months of the offensive to wipe out the Tamil Tigers rebels, which ended on May 18.

The Sri Lankan Government had announced that it would resettle at least 80 per cent of the displaced people by the end of the year.

The United Nations, Indian and the Western Governments have urged Sri Lanka to let Tamil refugees return to their homes quickly. (ANI)