PM arrives in Leh
By IANSTuesday, August 17, 2010
LEH - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday morning arrived in flood-ravaged Leh town of Jammu and Kashmir where he is expected to look at the relief and rehabilitation efforts as well as announce a package for the victims.
He is accompanied by members of the union cabinet, who hail from Jammu and Kashmir, including Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah and the state congress chief Saifuddin Soz.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju visited the area Monday.
In his Independence Day speech, Singh announced that all efforts will be made to look at the relief and rehabilitation of Leh victims.
In a statement in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday that about 6,000 personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Border Roads Organisation, National Disaster Relief Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police were assisting the civil administration in relief operations.
Heavy rains and a cloudburst between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Aug 6 triggered flash floods in Leh town and surrounding areas of Choglamsar, Pathar Sahib, Phyang, Hanoyogma and Nimu. Floods occurred during the night, claiming 183 lives so far.
