Saturday, August 12 2006 15:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vadodara: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced an immediate relief package of Rs 350 crore for the flood-ravaged Surat district of Gujarat yesterday (Aug 11, 2006).



Making the announcement before leaving for Delhi after an aerial survey of the flood-affected states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Singh said the assistance would be released from the National Calamity Contingency Fund.

An amount of Rs 10 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) had been announced for the city by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherji and Congress president Sonia Gandhi yesterday.

The Prime Minister said with today's package, the Centre has released a total assistance of Rs 500 crore for flood relief in Gujarat.

After reviewing the situation with Gujarat governor Navalkishore Sharma and Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the civilian Harni airport here, the prime minister also announced Rs one lakh each to the families of the deceased, which will be given from he Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

"Three million residents of the Surat city have been undergoing severe hardships over the last few days. Houses have been completely flooded. People have been stranded," Singh said.

"Electricity and water supply have stopped, telephone communications have been completely disrupted and road and rail communication have stopped," he added.