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Srinagar, July 13 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government today handed over ex-gratia amounts for victims of July 11 series of blasts here to West Bengal's Tourism Minister Manabenda Mukherjee.

Mr Mukherjee thanked state government for the efforts in providing timely help to the families of killed and injured tourists.

He praised the local people for being on the side of these tourists in the hour of crisis and helped in extending all sorts of facilities to them including blood donations.

Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussasin Baig briefed the visiting Minister of the steps being taken by the state government to overcome the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents and create confidence among the tourist community.

He said tourism is the index of normalcy and visit of people has its own set of political rewards. He praised the domestic tourists for their determination against all provocation.

Thanking Mr Mukherjee for his visit, Mr Baig said it has come as a great morale for the people of Kashmir as well.

Mr Baig handed over cheques of six lakh rupees to Mr Mukherjee to be disbursed among the kin of tourists killed in a series of grenade blasts in the city on July 11.

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