PM surveys flood-hit Guj, announces Rs 500 cr relief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday did an aerial survey of the flood hit areas of Gujarat and announced an immediate relief of Rs 500 crores and a sum of Rs two lakh to the next of kind of all those who had lost their lives in the rain onslaught besides Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
"This would be addition to the amount announced by the state government”, he added.
About 70 people have lost their lives in the rain havoc in the state so far.
Speaking at the Ahmedabad airport after his tour, the prime minister assured the state that all help would be forthcoming from the Centre with an air of urgency.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Ahmedabad in the late afternoon and then left for an aerial survey of the affected areas of North Gujarat accompanied by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
On his return, the held a review meeting with the chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and senior government officials.
According to the prime minister, assessment teams of the various Central ministries will be rushed to Gujarat to carry out an assessment and submit their report to enable further processing of aid.
Though the entire state is facing a continuous rain onslaught, the situations has turned alarmingly serious with the North Gujarat districts of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Patan being inundated by heavy and continuous rains over the last 48 hours.
The Army, Air Force, NDRF, SRPF and local police besides fire brigade units have been pressed into relief and rescue operations with reports of people marooned due to the incessant rains streaming in my the minute.
As many as 46,000 people have been moved to safety in Banaskantha district alone and over a thousand people rescue so far.
In Banaskantha district 472 villages are without power and six national highways, 61 state roads and 287 panchayat roads have been closed. Seventeen trains passing through the affected region to Delhi and north India have been cancelled, six terminated midway and two trains have been diverted. Over 300 buses have been cancelled so far.
Official sources said that the 36-hour long rains have seen North Gujarat receive over 95 per cent of the season's rainfall.