Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the floods in Jammu and Kashmir as ‘national level’ disaster on Sunday announced a special assistance of Rs 1,000 crores for rehabilitaion and relief work.
“The floods in the state are national disaster and not just a disaster for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have taken the aerial survey of the affected areas. The condition of Srinagar is worse. Army, Airforce and NDRF are working together to tackle the situation,” he said.
The special assistance have been announced after the PM observed that the Rs 1100 crores package available to the state government through the state Disaster Relief Fund would be inadequate.
The PM also extended support to the Pakistan government which is also facing devastation due to the floods.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as well with the death toll climbing upto 110 and displacing thousands.
As the state government battles worst flood in the last 50 years, Modi took an aerial survey of the flood-affected state today and said that central government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed in flood-related incidents and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
The Prime Minister also announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore from Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to provide one lakh blankets to the people to protect them from the cold weather.
Around 5,000 tents will also be provided to those who have been displaced from their homes.
The PM said that relief operations is now the priority of the government and boats and medical facilities will be provided to the people soon.
Speaking about the dozens of bridges that have been damaged due to heavy rains in the state, the PM said that Army is working towards to restore them.
Around 12,000 people have been rescued from various areas of Jammu by teams of Army and IAF till now with 184 columns (75-100 personnel each) of troops and 23 helicopters and planes of Air Force carrying out rescue operations.
Modi is currently on a visit to the state to personally review the situation. After arriving in Jammu earlier today, he held high-level meeting with top officials and CM Omar Abdullah.
