M A I N   N E W S

It’s national disaster, says PM
Arun Joshi
Tribune News Service

People being rescued on a make-shift raft in Srinagar on Sunday. PTI

An IAF helicopter rescues people marooned in a flood-hit area of Jammu. A Tribune photo

Jammu, September 7
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced Rs 1,000 crore aid to Jammu and Kashmir where the flood fury has claimed over 184 lives and left hundreds marooned.

“It’s a national-level disaster and the Central Government will offer all assistance to the state and its people in this hour of crisis,” said Modi, who toured the flood-ravaged areas in the state today.

“This assistance of Rs 1,000 crore should help you (the state government) to intensify rescue operations,” he told CM Omar Abdullah at a review meeting in Srinagar. Modi drove from Srinagar airport to Humhuma (a distance of 5- 6 km), where the water level was more than five feet.

The Jammu & Kashmir Government already has Rs 1,100 crore in its kitty from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The Prime Minister said this amount was inadequate given the scale of the damage caused by floods.

Modi said the state should first go for “flood mapping.” It will tell the government up to what extent the rivers were swollen as the existing gauge meters have got erased in the devastating floods, he said.

“The first priority of the state government should be to intensify the rescue efforts. Then we will move to relief, restoration and rehabilitation,” said the Prime Minister.

“The Centre is ready with all assistance which would enable you to tackle the situation,” Modi told officials whom he asked specific questions on the quantum of loss and damage, need for medicines, tents and blankets.

The floods have wreaked havoc across the state, leaving highways blocked and hundreds of villages submerged.

On Sunday, flood waters entered Srinagar city as the Jhelum breached embankments at several places.

India, Pak offer each other help PM Narendra Modi on Sunday wrote to his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif offering assistance for flood victims in the neighbouring country. “In this hour of need... our resources are at your disposal wherever you need them,” he said in the letter. On its part, Pakistan condoled the loss of lives in J&K and offered help to India to tackle the situation

Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived in Jammu and held a review meeting with the authorities in which Governor NN Vohra and CM Omar Abdullah were present. During the meeting, the Prime Minister enquired from the Army commanders about the losses suffered by the forces. The commanders said the headquarters of the 15 Corps, Badami Bagh Cantonment was submerged, and the Army had suffered huge damage to its operational base and the control room.

The Prime Minister also expressed his anguish over the loss of the life and property in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and offered all-possible help.

“The Government of India was ready to provide humanitarian assistance to people in those areas if the Pakistan Government needs it,” he said.