“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 has 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 up to 110 and displacing thousands.
“Indian government is ready to extend its support to Pakistani government in the wake of devastation due to floods in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK),” he said.
As the state government battles worst flood in the last 50 years, Modi took an aerial survey of the flood-affected state on Sunday 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.
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 on Sunday, he held high-level meeting with top officials and CM Omar Abdullah.
Omar appeals
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday appealed to people to not panic and help those who are stuck in the floods.
Omar further said that 20 boats will be arriving from Delhi which will be deployed in worst-affected areas of the state capital including Rajbagh and Shivpura. The remaining boats will be deployed by evening, he added.
Abdullah took to Twitter and asked them to wait in safe areas until help reaches them. “The water level in Jammu is decreasing now. So, our focus would be on relief and rehabilitation. However, the situation in Kashmir continues to be alarming due to the rising water level in areas near Sindh River,” he said.
He said that four Principal Secretary rank secretaries will be deputed to assess the damage done in Jammu and Kashmir and to ensure that relief reaches people.
Omar also said that around 12 helicopters have been put on standby to rescue people from areas where boats cannot reach.
The J&K chief minister said that around 50 boats are being airlifted to the affected areas from Patna, Ghaziabad and Gandhinagar to help rescue people.
He also said that he has asked the Cabinet Secretary for airlifting of boats to Srinagar urgently as well.
The state has been facing the worst floods in the last 50 years which submerged over 2,500 villages, killed around 160 people and displaced lakhs others.
Source: Nagaland Post
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