Jharkhand compensates Rs 5 lakh to kin of 36 Uttarakhand floods victims

The Jharkhand government on Friday handed over Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of 36 victims of the June 2013 Uttarakhand disaster.

"Chief Minister Hemant Soren handed over Rs.5 lakh each to the kin of 36 people who died in the the Uttarakhand disaster at a solemn programme held at the project building (state secretariat). Death certificates were also given," said a press release.

Two minutes' silence was observed in memory of the departed souls. Soren said the Uttarakhand disaster was a great tragedy for the country. He added the government was willing to help the families of the victims.

The Chief Minister said wherever people of Jharkhand have become a victim, the government had reached out and provided succour. He said: "In the Goa building collapse incident of Jan 4, the government put in efforts to provide better treatment to the injured and also arranged special plane to bring the mortal remains of victims."

Soren said in future the government plans to have a list of all going out of the state. He said most victims of the Uttarakhand tragedy have been identified.

While distributing the compensation to the families of the victims, he said the endeavour of the government is to provide maximum possible help. He said the government has a proposal to deposit money in the name of children who had become orphans, women who had become widows, and parents who had lost their son to provide them relief.

Of the Rs 5 lakh, Rs 2 lakh was from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, and Rs 1.5 lakh each from the Disaster Management Authority of India and the Jharkhand Disaster Management.