PM announces Rs.1 lakh for kin of Leh cloudburst victims

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday condoled the deaths caused by the cloudburst in Leh town of Jammu and Kashmir and announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh each for the families of those dead.

“The prime minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs.1 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of the person deceased and Rs.50,000 to those seriously injured,” said the press release issued by the Prime Minster’s Office.

At least 59 people are believed to have died and over 300 injured in the cloudburst that took place after midnight Thursday.

In his condolence message, Singh said he was “deeply shocked to learn of the loss of lives and devastation in the flash floods caused by the cloudburst in the Choglumsar area near Leh in Ladakh.”

He offered his condolences to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

He added that the centre would give all “possible help to the state government and the affected people in the rescue and relief operations.”