Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced that a central team would visit Jammu and Kashmir soon to take stock of the damage due to heavy snowfall in the state. He assured that the Jammu-Srinagar national highway would be opened within three days.Asked if the state was prepared to meet the eventuality of floods once the snow melts, he said: ‘‘Our government is behind the state in every difficulty. The Centre will provide all help to the state.After the recommendations of the team, the Centre will announce the relief package for the state.’’The prime minister, however, hinted there would be delay in the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. ‘‘There will be operational difficulty before April 7 in the present situation,’’ he said.Singh held a unified command meeting at Jammu this evening after visiting Kishtwar in Doda district, attended by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Earlier in the day, accompanied by Patil, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Singh did an aerial survey of Anantnag, Pulwama in Kashmir and Doda, Banihal, Ramban, Gandoh, Thathri and Bhaderwah in Jammu. His chopper landed at Kishtwar where he met the affected people.‘‘The Centre has already issued Rs 50 crore as relief to the state. Now, the central team will soon visit the state and asses the losses. After the recommendations of the Central team, the Centre will release the necessary relief package to the state,’’ he said. ‘‘There has been extensive loss of infrastructure, including roads, buildings, power and water supply schemes. There is need to accelerate relief measures.’’Singh announced Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia help to family members of those killed. Asked if the state had failed to launch rescue operations in time, he said: ‘‘We can do better in the future learning from the previous experiences.’’Jammu-Udhampur line soonJAMMU: The ambitious Jammu-Udhampur rail line will be inaugurated soon. This was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Sunday. He said the rail track was ready but there were a few snags. ‘‘It will be inaugurated soon,’’ he assured. On the opening of Suchetgarh-Sialkot road, he said discussions were on with Pakistan. — ENS
