PM to spend Diwali with flood-hit people in Kashmir

In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kashmir on Diwali and spend time with flood-hit people there.

He made the announcement on his twitter account.

"Will be in Srinagar on Diwali, October 23 and will spend the day with our sisters and brothers affected by the unfortunate floods," Modi tweeted.

Kashmir was hit by unprecedented floods last month in which widespread damage was caused.

Modi has already announced Rs 1,000 crore for rehabilitation of the state and promised to do whatever else the government can.

Thousands of people rendered homeless by the deluge in Jammu and Kashmir last month are pinning their hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Diwali visit to the Valley, expecting him to announce a substantial package that can help them rebuild their homes before the onset of winter.

"We are hopeful that the Prime Minister, who has decided to spend Diwali in Srinagar, will announce a good package for the flood victims so that we can start picking up the threads of life again," Ghulam Ahmad, who is putting up with his family in a tent at Batamaloo said.

Many flood victims feel that Modi's visit will not be just symbolic and the Prime Minister will announce a comprehensive plan so that the state and its people are able to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by the floods.

1.04 lakh houses across the state while over 1.5 lakh houses suffered partial damage due to the natural calamity.

The state government has submitted to the Centre a memorandum of losses due to floods to the tune of Rs 44,000 crore.

A major worry for the flood victims is the onset of winter as they are left with less than a month of working season in Kashmir.