Raman urges PM for aid to tackle floods in C'garh

New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil to extend Central assistance immediately to the severely flood affected areas of his State.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, the Chief Minister said situation in Dantewada and Jagdalpur district was grim due to massive floods. As many as 108 villages in Dantewada district and many villages of Jagdalpur district were affected by the floods.

The Chief Minister said crops in about 5000 hectares of land had suffered extensive damage while many roads, bridges and culverts in the affected areas were broken with electric transmission lines and transformers badly affected.

Mr Singh said more than 5000 houses had suffered damage while 20,000 displaced people had been shifted to relief camps. Five people were reported killed and several others missing due to floods.

Government properties were badly affected, including school buildings, according to the Chief Minister.

Mr Singh appreciated the timely help extended by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force personnel in rescue and relief work operation.

The Chief Minister pointed out in his letter that his Government had to suffer a loss of Rs 250 crores due to the natural disaster.

He called for immediate assessment of the damage by the Central Government team and subsequent sanction for relief to the flood affected areas of the State.

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