Tuesday, October 11 2005 12:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tangdhar (JK): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew into this quake-ravaged region in north Kashmir this morning (Oct 11, 2005) and announced an additional assistance of Rs 500 crore to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh made the announcement at a small public meeting here after an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by the magnitude 7.6 killer quake on Saturday that has claimed nearly 950 people so far.

The Union government had earlier announced an ad hoc Rs 100 crore aid to the state, while the Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee said another Rs 42 crore would be given from the Natural Calamity fund for the rehabilitation work.

Tangdhar in Kupwara district close to the Line of Control along with Uri region in Baramulla district is among the worst affected areas as they are in proximity to the epicentre of the quake in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.