Centre to give Rs50 crore grant to quake-hit Sikkim: Chidambaram

The Centre would give Rs50 crore immediately as grant for relief and rehabilitation work in quake-ravaged Sikkim where nine villages are still cut off in the North district, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram  today said.

After assessment of the situation, medium and long term rehabilitation programme would be drawn up in the state, he said, adding the Centre would work shoulder to shoulder with the state to restore normalcy.

"The Centre will immediately release Rs50 crore as grant for the relief and rehabilitation work in Sikkim though the state has enough funds", Chidambaram told reporters after meeting state Chief Minister Pawan Chamling here.

He said the prime minister would visit Sikkim after his return to the country from abroad.

Chidambaram said relief work has started in most of the affected places but "nine villages in the North district are still cut off but the army assured me that they will be able to reach there soon".

Around 6,000 people are sheltered in the relief camps and the immediate work was to send relief to them, he said, adding that food dropping was done in most of the affected areas.

Efforts were on to restore electricity and communication and soon the work would be completed, he said.

Earlier, Chidambaram who arrived at the Libing helipad here at 9.15am, interacted with the quake victims at the STNM hospital here.