Dehradun, June 26, 2013: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Wednesday said the state government will provide “special economic package” to people whose properties have been destroyed in flash floods in Kedarnath area.

“Even though there is no provision, we will provide a special economic package for the properties that have been destroyed in the flash floods in Kedarnath Valley,” he told a press conference in Dehradun.

On relief assistance to be provided to farmers, Mr. Bahuguna said the state will provide Rs. 5,000 instead of Rs. 200 to farmers whose fields have been washed away by floods.

The Chief Minister said a total of 15 choppers have been hired by the state government and they have been deployed with the affected districts to provide relief material to villages that cut-off due to the rains.

“Within next 2-3 days, we will ensure that rations and other relief materials are provided to villages which are cut-off from the state highways. If helicopters are required for doing so, they will be provided and mules would also be used for the purpose,” he said.

Mr. Bahuguna said a DIG-rank officer has been deputed to arrange for the cremation of bodies in Kedarnath temple area.

He said in some cases it was not possible to reach the bodies as they were located at a distance lying in deep valley.

Source: The Times of India, DT. June 26, 2013.