Prime Minister announces interim flood relief assistance for Uttarakhand

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday announced an advance ad hoc assistance of rupees 500 crore for Uttarakhand State in addition to the money advanced a day earlier for the State Disaster Response Fund.

Prime Minister announced the advance ad hoc assistance to the State, keeping in view the situation arising from unprecedented floods and landslides in Uttarakhand, the request made by the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, for liberal Central assistance, and the demand of slightly over ‘ 900 crore projected by the Government of Uttarakhand to the Central Government in its interim memorandum, said an official release.

Meanwhile, an inter-ministerial Central team has been constituted for visiting the State to make an on-the-spot assessment of the damages, and will make its visit as soon as the State Government is ready to receive it.

Based on the assessment of the Central team, further assistance would be considered. (ANI)