Airtel, JSPL & HCC provide assistance in flood-hit Uttarakhand

Over 40 choppers, 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel engaged in rescue operations

Companies like JSPL and Bharti Airtel have joined hands with government agencies to provide assistance to victims in the flood-hit Uttarakhand.

Over 40 choppers and 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel are engaged in the rescue operations following one of the worst calamities that hit the hill state last week.

Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) today said it has contributed Rs 5 crore towards Uttarakhand flood relief and also provided air support to help stranded pilgrims to safer places.

JSPL chairman and MP Naveen Jindal has donated Rs 2.5 crore to the Prime Minister Relief Fund and company's employees have also pledged to contribute Rs 2.5 crore by donating their one day's basic salary for the relief work undertaken by the government.

"A total of Rs 5 crore has been contributed by the JSPL family for the relief fund," the company said in a statement.

JSPL conducted two relief flights of ERJ 135, regional jet with a seating capacity of 37 passengers aircraft to Dehradun to ferry victims not fit enough to undertake road journey to Delhi.

India's leading telecom operator Airtel said it will give Rs 10 talk-time to its 20,000 customers with a balance less than Re 1.

"This offer will benefit all the visiting Airtel customers who were in the four affected districts, including Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Tehri Garwhal, between June 14 and 16. Besides, 50 extra Airtel-to-Airtel local minutes have also been credited to the trapped customers," the company said in a statement.

It has also started free of cost Emergency Alert Service for the customers registered in the Visitor Location Register in the affected districts.

Airtel calling booths (facility available to all) to enable free calling for the victims have been set up along with three relief camps at ITBP camp in Joshimath of Chamoli district, Phata and Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district.

Meanwhile, construction major HCC today said the company is providing support to nearby village by clearing of roads using equipment like dozer and dumpers.

The company also provided assistance to government teams to move towards Kedarnath to rescue stranded pilgrims by clearing the debris.

Besides food camp, HCC also made arrangement of shelter for women and children. Sanitation facility was provided to the commuters with a special focus on women and children, the company said.

Industry body Assocham had said it will collect Rs 2 crore from its members for rescue, relief and rehabilitation of people in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.