J&K begins disbursal of relief to victims of Pak shelling

More than Rs 8 lakh has already been disbursed in the Uri sector including distribution of ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of the seven out of ten killed, he added. In Kupwara district, ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the next of kin of each of those killed has already been sanctioned and the amount 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 shelling from across the border in Kashmir for the past five days. Seventy villages in Uri, Gurez, Karnah, Keran, Machil and Kargil have been affected in the firing.

Shafi said the administration wasfully geared to meet the situation caused by unprecedented shelling by Pakistani troops.

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

Shafi said while the people of Uri town and other areas had shown a lot of courage, staying put despite continuous shelling, about 250 families were shifted to Gantmulla and Bhella colonies where they were being looked after by the administration.

Ambulances and doctors have been rushed to areas where medical facilities were found to be inadequate. Defence Minister George Fernandes, who visited the Valley recently, toured Kargil, Kupwara and Baramulla districts to take stock of the situation.