Dalai Lama donates Rs 10 lakh to flood-hit Orissa

Dharamsala (HP), Oct 1: Concerned over the devastation caused by floods in Orissa, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has donated Rs 10 lakh to the state government.

In a condolence letter sent to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday, the Dalai Lama condoled the loss of lives and devastation caused by the natural calamity.

"I am saddened to know that some of the worst floods ever seen in Orissa have resulted in the loss of many lives and a great deal of property, wreaking havoc on millions of people in your state... I am making a donation of Rs 10 lakh from the Dalai Lama Trust as a token of my sympathy and concern to support the relief work," he said.

According to officials, at least 40 people died and 1.57 lakh houses damaged in the current spell of floods in Orissa.

The Dalai Lama's last visit to the state was in 2010 when he had held religious discourses and inaugurated a Buddhist monastery.

PTI