Karnataka gives Rs.5 crore to Uttarakhand for disaster relief

Karnataka Friday handed over a cheque for Rs.5 crore to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna at Dehradun to help the state ravaged by rain and floods, an official statement said here.

The cheque was given to Bahuguna by Karnataka Information and Infrastructure Development minister Santosh Lad, it said.

Lad has been sent to Dehradun by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to be on hand to assist people from state stranded in various parts of Uttarakhand.

According to Siddaramaiah, about 1,200 people from Karnataka were stranded in Uttarakhand. Around 200 of them have been evacuated.

The evacuated are first brought to New Delhi where food and accommodation has been arranged by the government. The government has released Rs.50 lakh to meet expenses for food, accommodation and travel back to Karnataka.

A three-member team of Karnataka officials has been in Dehradun for the last four days to be of help to people from the state.

Karnataka has also deputed a six-member team of doctors to New Delhi to provide medical aid to rescued people who are being brought to the national capital for onward journey home.

The team would reach New Delhi Saturday and stay till the end of the month, an official release said in Bangalore.

If need be, some members of the team would travel to Uttarakhand to treat people from the state, it said.