Dehradun, Sept. 11 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a relief package of ₹1,200 crore for districts of Uttarakhand devastated by heavy rains, floods, and landslides during this year’s monsoon season.
Along with financial aid, the prime minister declared an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for families who lost loved ones and ₹50,000 for those injured. He also said that children orphaned in the disasters will be given comprehensive support under the PM CARES for Children scheme.
“The central government stands firmly with the people of Uttarakhand. We will provide all necessary support for restoration and rebuilding of infrastructure in the affected regions,” Modi stated during his visit, where he met survivors and extended condolences to grieving families.
According to state officials, monsoon-related disasters since April have claimed at least 85 lives, left 128 injured, and 94 people missing. Districts including Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri, Bageshwar, and Nainital have borne the brunt of cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods.
During his visit, Modi interacted with personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local volunteers who were involved in rescue and relief operations. He praised their efforts, saying their service “brought hope in times of immense despair.”
The prime minister arrived in Dehradun earlier in the day, where he was received at Jolly Grant Airport by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Welcoming Modi, Dhami wrote on social media that the prime minister’s presence “in the midst of the affected people at this difficult time of disaster shows his sensitivity towards them.”
Officials said the relief announcement follows a recent assessment visit by an inter-ministerial central team to the disaster-hit districts.
Modi arrived in Uttarakhand from Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, where he had earlier met Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
