Rs 6 lakh compensation for kin of those killed in quake

Government on Sunday announced Rs 6 lakh compensation for kin of those killed in the country due to the earthquake as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of rescue and relief operations at home and in Nepal and directed that they be speeded up through close coordination among agencies.

"The next of kin of those who lost their lives in various parts of the country due to the earthquake yesterday shall receive an enhanced compensation of Rs 4 lakh from the National Disaster Relief Fund," a PMO statement said.

This follows the Union Government's decision to revise the guidelines for the National Disaster Relief Fund and raise this compensation amount from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh in the event of death due to natural calamity, it added.

The above amount is in addition to the compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund announced earlier in the day.

A compensation of Rs 50,000 has also been announced for the seriously injured.

Meanwhile, the prime minister chaired a follow-up meeting to review the progress of relief and rescue operations. The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh and Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, Additional Principal Secretary PK Mishra, and other senior officials from various ministries, IMD and NDRF.

Modi was briefed on the work being done by various agencies involved in relief and rescue work, both in India and Nepal, the PMO said.

He was also briefed on the situation arising out of the major aftershock that occurred earlier on Sunday.

"The prime minister emphasised the need for further increasing the pace of search and rescue operations, and evacuation of stranded people from Nepal," the PMO statement said.

Modi directed that in addition to the air route, road links should also be used for evacuating stranded people at the earliest.

He stressed on the need for ensuring coordination among various agencies involved in relief and rescue operations.

"The prime minister also said that highest priority be accorded to providing food and water supplies, including milk powder, to the affected areas, the statement said.

Image: An Indian security personnel stands near a collapsed house after an earthquake in Siliguri. Photograph: Reuters