Jayalalithaa announces Rs 5 crore assistance to flood-hit Kashmir

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday announced an assistance of Rs five crore to flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir and offered to extend any other assistance required.

Describing the destruction caused by flood fury in the state as a "colossal tragedy", she observed that the unprecedented floods and landslides had caused extensive damage to property, besides taking a heavy toll of lives.

"The State of Jammu and Kashmir is faced with the arduous task of ensuring immediate rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures for the flood ravaged areas and reconstruction of the devastated areas in the coming days. "As a token of the support and solidarity of the Government and people of Tamil Nadu with the Government and people of Jammu & Kashmir in their hour of need, I have ordered the immediate contribution of a sum of Rs 5 crores from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund," she said in a statement here.

The Chief Minister expressed her heartfelt condolences to the families of persons killed in the tragedy and said that "the Government of Tamil Nadu stands ready to render any other assistance as may be required by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir."

Heavy floods have wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving nearly 150 people dead.