Manmohan Singh calls Pak PM, offers assistance for flood relief

New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, called Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to express his sense of sorrow and to condole the deaths resulting from the huge floods that have devastated parts of Pakistan.

Dr Singh said the government had already made an offer of assistance and was ready to do more to assist in the relief effort.

"In such times of natural disasters, all of South Asia should rise to the occasion and extend every possible help to the people of Pakistan affected by the tragedy," said Dr Singh.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit was quoted as saying that the aid has gone to the concerned authorities for further clearance.

Over 1,600 people have been killed and 20 million affected as raging floodwaters continue to wreak havoc in the country.

In addition to causing major human loses, it has destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, washed away crops and livestock.

Relief and rescue work has been hit badly by continuous rains, particularly in Pakistan's northwestern region. (ANI)