Omar Abdullah briefs Prime Minister Narendra Modi on flood status, seeks liberal financial help

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the status of relief and rehabilitation operations in the flood-hit state and sought liberal financial assistance from the Centre to rebuild the devastated areas.

The Prime Minister arrived here this afternoon to spend Diwali with the flood-hit people of the Valley. He was received at the airport by Governor N N Vohra and the Chief Minister.

The Prime Minister held a meeting at the airport which was attended by the Governor, the Chief Minister and some top officials of the state administration.

During the meeting, Omar briefed the Prime Minister about the relief and rehabilitation operations going on in the flood-hit areas, officials said.

They said Omar pitched for a liberal financial assistance from the Centre for rebuilding the devastated areas in the state, they said.

This is Modi's second visit to J-K after the recent floods. During his first visit on September seven after the natural calamity struck the state, the Prime Minister had announced a Rs 1,000-crore special assistance package for rehabilitation of the victims.

Omar had yesterday expressed the hope the Prime Minister would accept the state government's demand for a Rs 44,000- crore package for relief to the flood-hit people.

After taking stock of the situation at the airport, Modi flew in a helicopter to Raj Bhawan to hold interactions with delegations of political parties, business community and civil society.