Friday, October 14 2005 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka today (Oct14, 2005) informed Jammu and Kashmir Government that it would immediately dispatch relief materials worth Rs 10 crore for the earthquake victims.

Chief Minister N Dharam Singh held out an assurance to this effect to the Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Raman Mattoo, who called on him seeking assistance to provide succor to the affected.

Singh said Mattoo informed him that the devastating earthquake has rendered 1.6 crore people homeless and his state's immediate need was for tents and tarpaulins to provide shelter to the homeless.

The Chief Minister also had a telephone talk with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and assured him that Karnataka would render all possible assistance to the earthquake victims of Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier speaking to reporters, Mattoo said that the J and K Government had appealed for help in form of building material, blankets and tents from Karnataka. The recent snowfall had led to drop in temperatures augmenting the need for warm woolens and materials for setting up shelters.

Though the PM had announced a relief of Rs 642 crore, the cost of rehabilitation of those rendered homeless was expected to cross the figure, he said.

Replying to a query on tourism, he said that the inflow of tourists had been over 10 lakh, signaling that the situation in the region had been conducive for tourism.

The inflow of tourists during the 45-day Amarnath Yatra and Vaishnodevi temple had also sent out positive signals.