Sunday, October 9 2005 19:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Uri (J &K): Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Oct 9, 2005) said the Center has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for relief and rehabilitation of earthquake victims of Jammu and Kashmir and another Rs 42 crore would be provided from the Natural Calamity Fund.

"We got the information about the devastating earthquake at Chandigarh yesterday (Oct 8, 2005) . Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson decided to rush Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here to monitor the rescue and rehabilitation operations," Mukherjee said addressing a small gathering of quake-affected people here.

He said the Center sanctioned Rs 100 crore immediate reliefs to the state at a Cabinet meeting convened by the Prime Minister last evening.

Mukherjee said Rs 42 crore would also be provided to the state from Natural Calamity Fund.

Assuring the people that Azad would stay back to over see the relief and rescue efforts, the Defence Minister said armed forces would continue to extend help to the civil administration in putting life back on track in the affected areas.