Central relief for Arunachal Pradesh soon: Kiren Rijiju

By Pradeep Kumar Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) [India], July 13 (ANI): Central government relief would flow soon into Arunachal Pradesh, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told media here today. When asked by this reporter that this hilly state has witnessed never seen before trail of devastation, Rijiju said, "That is why I am here leading an high level eight-member official team to take stock of the situation to recommend the Centre to immediately release relief from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the state Govt to overcome the situation." He was speaking after inspecting the massive damage caused to water supply pipe lines along Niti Vihar Road. The central team included NDRF IG Ravi Joseph, MoHA joint secretary (Administration) Shri Prakash, Niti Aayog joint secretary Vikram Singh Gaur, MoHA disaster management director Gopi Chandra Chawwaniya, DoE assistant director BK Mishra, RD under secretary M Ramakrishnan. Rijiju was accompanied by PWD and RD Parliamentary Secretary-cum-local MLA Techi Kaso, senior state Govt officers, including Capital DC Prince Dhawan and SP Dr A Kaon, IMC councilors. Arunachal Pradesh has recorded incessant rains since June, leading to massive floods, land and mud slides that have washed away roads, culverts, bridges, telecommunication system etc to bring life to a grinding halt. The natural catastrophe has claimed 23 lives during this ongoing monsoon, including 14 buried alive at Laptap village under Sagalee sub-division of Papum Pare district when a hillock came crushing during afternoon on July 11 last. The last death was reported from Seiojosa sub-division in East Kameng district where one Dol Bahadur Rai, 62, a retired PWD employee, reportedly drowned in Pakke River around 5 p m on Wednesday while attempting to cross the river which was in spate. His mortal remains were retrieved downstream in Assam at Mori Khuti. Prime Minister Narendra Modi from PM's Relief Fund has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs. two lakh each for next of the kins of the persons deceased and Rs. 50,000 each to the person who got seriously hurt in the landslide of Laptap village on July 11 last. It has been requested that total fund requirement along with lists incorporating the names of the deceased, their next of kin and seriously injured persons with complete postal addresses may be sent to PMO Under Secretary P K Bali. Chief Minister Pema Khandu has thanked Prime Minister Modi for the ex-gratia relief announcement.(ANI)