States offer assistance, send relief teams

NEW DELHI, JAN. 27. Several State Governments today announced financial assistance and relief materials for the survivors of the earthquake which hit Gujarat on Friday. The Karnataka Government announced that it would donate Rs. 5 crores to provided relief to the survivors. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, announced that the services of an IAF helicopter had been sought to send a team of doctors, adding that medicines and blankets would also be despatched.

Jharkhand would give Rs. 1.5 crores, its Chief Minister, Mr. Babulal Marandi said. The Chhattisgarh Government has decided to give Rs. one crore.

The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal, sent a draft of Rs. 51 lakhs to his Gujarat counterpart, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, and also donated one month's salary for rehabilitation of the survivors. His Ministers also decided to contribute one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

The Kerala Government announced a first installment of Rs. one crore relief assistance. An official team led by its Social Welfare Department Secretary, Dr. Satyanarayana Dash, would leave on Sunday to ascertain the condition of Keralites affected by the quake.

The Orissa Government announced an ad hoc assistance of Rs. one crore, official sources said. The amount was being provided from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The West Bengal Government sanctioned Rs. 2 crores as immediate grant and decided to send a three-member team to coordinate with the Gujarat Government in the rescue mission, the State Finance Minister, Mr. Asim Dasgupta, said.

The Rajasthan Government despatched a 10-member medical team to assist in relief work. Medicines costing Rs. 10 lakhs were being sent, officials said in Jaipur. Already 2,000 blankets, worth Rs. 5,00,000, had been sent. Six of the five cranes sent from Jaipur had reached Ahmedabad. A 30-member medical team was also being flown to Gujarat.

The Bihar Government decided to contribute Rs. 5 crores. This was decided at a special meeting of the State Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi.

Our Chennai Special Correspondent writes:

The Tamil Nadu Government will immediately donate Rs. 5 crores towards the relief operations. This was announced by the Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, here today.

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