Wednesday, November 2 2005 16:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is exploring possibilities of relocating around 900 homeless families belonging to the quake-ravaged villages of Tangdhar sector to alternative sites.

Around 900 families comprising 6600 people of the seven villages in Tangdhar that the October 8 killer earthquake devastated completely, have asked for relocation and the administration is exploring possibilities of shifting them to alternative sites, top district officials of Kupwara informed state Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha during his visit to the quake-hit areas yesterday (Nov 1, 2005) .

The Governor, who celebrated Diwali with the survivors of the quake, assured the victims of all possible assistance.

"A wave of sympathy is surging all around the country to see you rehabilitated. The entire nation is behind you," Sinha said.

The phase of rescue was over, Sinha said adding the task of rehabilitation is now being taken on war-footing.

"Our aim would be to make the living conditions of people in the affected areas better than what they were before the earthquake," he said.

Every affected family is living in tents or improvised shelter of some kind and the major task ahead was to have proper shelters for all during before severe winter sets in, he said.

During his fourth visit to the affected villages since the massive temblor, Sinha was briefed by the civil administration about relief measures while he himself inspected the shelters put up at various sites.