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Rs 3 million relief package for victims of Pak shelling

The Jammu and Kashmir government has formulated a Rs 3 million relief package for the families affected by the ongoing shelling from across the border, state Finance Minister Mohammad Shafi said on Thursday.

More than Rs 800,000 have already been disbursed in the Uri sector. This include the ex-gratia payments made to the next of kin of seven out of the 10 killed there, he added.

In Kupwara district, an ex-gratia of Rs 100,000 to the next of kin of each killed is being disbursed. As an ad hoc relief, Rs 25,000 has been sanctioned for damaged houses, Rs 5,000 for each injured and Rs 75,000 for permanent disability.

Pakistan has been resorting to heavy shelling on Kashmir since July 28. Seventy villages in Uri, Gurez, Karnah, Keran, Machil and Kargil have been affected in the firing.

Shafi said the administration was fully geared to meet the situation.

Ministers and senior officers are taking stock of the situation in different areas by interacting with the affected population, organising relief and rescue operations, shifting vulnerable population to safer places and keeping the morale of the people high, he said.

The finance minister has toured the Uri sector twice in last few days. Uri legislator Mohammad Aslam is camping there for the last week.

Forest Minister Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmad Lone have toured the affected areas of Kupwara district.

Minister of State for Roads and Building Yamar Ali Akhoon is camping at Kargil to supervise relief measures.

Defence Minister George Fernandes, too, visited some of the affected areas.

UNI

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