PM visits Leh to comfort flood victims

New Delhi, Aug 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached Leh on Tuesday, Aug 17 which has been hit by cloudbursts and flash floods that claimed about 200 lives and left over 400 injured.

Sources say, his visit is to oversee how relief and rehabilitation efforts are going on after the devastation.

The PM is expected to visit the hospitals where injured people are undergoing treatment.

He made a mention of the calamity in his Independence Day address assuring the people of the affected region that government will do everything possible for rehabilitating them.

Singh conveyed his condolences to those who lost their family members or near and dear ones in the Aug 6 calamity. "In this hour of grief, the whole country stands with the people of Ladakh," he said.

The Prime Minister had earlier announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh each to the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured from the PM's National Relief Fund.

OneIndia News