Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today flagged off the first consignment of relief material for the earthquake victims in Nepal from the Chandigarh airport.
An special aircraft, IL-76, of the Indian Air Force carried the relief material including 65 quintals of rice, 20 quintals pulses, 40 quintals refined oil, 15 quintals onion, two quintals ginger, six quintals salt, 75 kg each of turmeric, garam masala and chilli powder.
The transport aircraft also carried 15 quintals of sugar, 1.5 quintal of tea, 50 quintals of milk powder besides 1,000 blankets, 5,000 shawls, 200 plastic covers and 500 kg of milk, an official release said.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to help the earthquake-affected people of Nepal.
He said the relief material has been send as per the directions of the Government of India which had talked to its Nepalese counterpart to ascertain their requirement of relief material for the earthquake victims in this hour of crisis.
The Chief Minister further said the state government would dispatch consignments of relief material as and when required by Nepal.
Describing the earthquake in Nepal as a grave tragedy, Badal expressed his complete solidarity with the people of of the neighbouring country.
He said the Punjab government has deputed several senior civil and police officials for carrying out relief measures in Nepal.
He also lauded the work done by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee besides other religious and special organisations that are assisting relief efforts in Nepal.
