Uttarakhand floods: Bahuguna distributes monetary funds to kin of victims

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Saturday distributed Rs 5 lakh monetary relief each to the next of kin of 28 persons who went missing in the natural disaster in Uttarakhand at Lambgondi near Guptakashi.

Eighteen widows were also given Rs 25,000 each by the Chief Minister, who heard problems of locals and surveyed the affected areas, an official release here said.

Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat distributed cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of ten missing persons in Lwara village. He also gave cheques of Rs 25,000 each to seven widows.

Speaking on the occasion, Bahuguna assured the women and widows that payment of compensation to them was not the end of the state government's duty.

Promising free education to their children, he said the state government would always be there to help them.

Stating that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had extended her condolences to the families who had suffered in the disaster, he said she wanted speedy rehabilitation of the villages and immediate reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. She has convened a meeting in Delhi in this regard in which all the ministers concerned would participate, he said.

Bahuguna said, from now on, all development work in the state would be done keeping the environment in mind.

Development activities will be carried out scientifically taking adequate help from the GSI and ASI. Efforts are on to start regular prayers at Kedarnath at the earliest, he said, adding that the temple committee would soon start the work of cleaning the temple premises.

The BRO and PWD will also construct roads on a priority basis. Essential items were also being sent to Kedarnath for prayer and rituals to start at the earliest possible. He expressed hope that the state would overcome all the problems if everyone worked as a team. The CM also provided Rs 50,000 to an ailing Vijay Lakshmi as immediate assistance. He also heard the problems of the Teerth Purohits on the occasion.

Cabinet minister Rawat surveyed the area with MLA Shaila Rani Rawat and heard people's problems. He also directed the District Magistrate to be available to hear the people's complaints.

Disaster Management Minister Yashpal Arya said the government was with the affected people in the hour of crisis and asked the DM to set up camps in all necessary places for speedy distribution of relief material.