PM announces Rs 350 crore aid for Surat

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced an immediate relief package of Rs 350 crore for the flood-ravaged Surat district of Gujarat today.

Making the announcement before leaving for Delhi after an aerial survey of the flood-affected states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Singh said the assistance would be released from the National Calamity Contingency Fund.

An amount of Rs 10 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) had been announced for the city yesterday.

The Prime Minister said with today's package, the Centre has released a total assistance of Rs 500 crore for flood relief in Gujarat.

After reviewing the situation with Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat governor Navalkishore Sharma at the civilian Harni airport here, the prime minister also announced Rs 1 lakh each to the families of the deceased, which will be given from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

"Three million residents of the Surat city have been facing severe hardships over the last few days. Houses have been completely flooded. People have been stranded," Singh said.