Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers help to flood-affected areas in PoK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Jammu and Kashmir for a first-hand assessment of the situation arising out of incessant rain and floods in the state, offered his help to Pakistan to assist in the relief work in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"The floods have struck the entirety of Kashmir ; thus we offer our help to Pakistan for relief in the parts of PoK which have been flooded," he said.

Prime Minister Modi, who also held a review meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and top officials, called the floods as a 'national disaster'.

"In the last 50 years, no such disaster has happened like the one that has struck the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have taken an aerial view of Srinagar and Jammu. I am shocked at the amount of water flooding the streets of Srinagar. I assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that this is not a disaster for just the state; it is a disaster for the entire country and that the Indian government is with you at every step," he said.

Noting that the weather had cleared, Prime Minister Modi said, "The sun has come out today so relief operations will be easier. We have brought in boats from Maharashtra and Gujarat to help with operations. There has been a massive loss of property, so we have brought in approximately 5,000 tents. I have also ordered the purchase of one lakh blankets from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The army has been brought in to restore bridges that have been damaged."

Talking about the challenges in the relief operations, Prime Minister Modi said, "I have taken a detailed report of the situation from the officials of both Jammu and Srinagar. Currently, our biggest challenge is to get the roads repaired before the winter sets in because Leh-Ladakh will get completely cut off due to snow in winters and thus they will need supplies fast."

Prime Minister Modi further said, "We will give compensation of Rs two lakh for every dead and up to Rs 50,000 for those injured. The state was earlier given Rs 1100 crore for relief works; it will now be given Rs 1,000 crore more."

Prime Minister Modi was earlier on Saturday briefed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the extent of damage caused by the floods in Jammu and Kashmir and the suffering that the people were undergoing there.

In view of the seriousness of the situation, the Prime Minister had held a crisis review meeting with the Cabinet Secretary and other senior officials.

The Prime Minister called upon other states to also pitch in with relief assistance in whatever way they could.

Prime Minister Modi further said planes bringing relief material to the state would airlift stranded tourists.