Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 9: More States today came forward for the help of flood affected people of J&K and announced financial assistance.
Uttar Pradesh Government has announced an assistance of Rs 20 crore to flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, and expressed solidarity with flood-affected people in the hour of crisis.
“My heart goes out for people of Jammu and Kashmir. The people of UP are with them in this hour of crisis. We are contributing Rs 20 crores for relief work,” UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tweeted.
“I am trying to reach you J&K CM Omar Abdullah in this hour of need and support. Unable to reach you. My full support is with you,” he added.
Uttarakhand offered expertise, logistics and a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore for the flood-hit people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Announcing this at a press conference here, Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said Uttarakhand is the first state to make an offer like this to the flood-ravaged state.
Apart from the financial assistance of Rs 10 crore, Uttarakhand is also providing rafts to J and K to rescue people from marooned areas and submersible pumps installed in its hydel projects to flush out water from submerged regions, he said.
50 river rafts from Rishikesh have already been sent to the state and 20-30 more will soon be sent, the Chief Secretary said.
Arrangements are also being made to send submersible pumps from the hydel projects located in Uttarakhand to flush out water from inundated areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Kumar said.
Uttarakhand, which itself battled a natural calamity of unprecedented magnitude last year, is also providing official expertise to J&K to help combat the current crisis.
Uttarakhand Missing Cell chief Ajay Pradyot has been sent along with two of his subordinates to the northern state so that their experience and expertise could be utilised for J&K.
The missing cell of Uttarakhand constituted after last year’s calamity had done a commendable job during the crisis and Pradyot has been sent there to give the advantage of his expertise to the flood-hit State, he said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced an assistance of Rs 5 crore for the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a meeting to review situation in Gujarat after heavy rains, Ms Patel announced the assistance towards J&K CM Relief Fund.
Gujarat Government also announced that it would provide one lakh food packets daily for J&K flood victims for five days from today in coordination with the Centre.
“Gujarat has a tradition to help the people of other states during such calamities,” the Chief Minister said. Ms Patel appealed to the people of Gujarat to come to help of J&K people in this disaster and provide food and other relief items.
The State Government has set up control rooms at circuit houses at Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot to collect relief materials.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an assistance of Rs. 5 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for relief and restoration work in flood-hit areas of J&K.
Mr.Patnaik conveyed his deep sorrow to the affected people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Mr Patnaik expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Official sources said a team of 40 trained personnel of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) is ready with all required rescue equipment, boats and submersible pumps to be pressed into service for undertaking rescue and relief operations in the affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Germany today offered financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to a hospital in Baramulla to help flood-affected people in Kashmir.
“To show solidarity with those suffering in Kashmir, we looked into the embassy funds and we will send Rs 25 lakh for basic healthcare today,” German ambassador Michael Steiner said on the sidelines of an event.
These funds will go to a hospital in Baramulla.
“We have a partner hospital in Baramulla where we have already sent cars, buses and medicines. We have doctors there for quite sometime,” the ambassador said.
He said that a cultural programme in Jammu and Kashmir featuring a performance by renowned international conductor Zubin Mehta organised by the Embassy last year led to the creation of “long-standing, sustainable” relations with the State.
“With the Kashmir concert, we have established really long-standing sustainable relations with Kashmir. But now, with this catastrophic flood, I think we need to do the extra thing and this is what we did today,” he said.
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