The Prime Minister has issued an appeal to all Indians to contribute generously to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund in aid of the relief and rehabilitation work in Jammu & Kashmir. A separate website is being opened to record all contributions made towards the J&K relief effort so that funds to donated to this cause are earmarked for the purpose. The Prime Minister has already announced ex-gratia assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, and a relief package of Rs 500 crore, in addition to Rs 142.32 crore already released to the State Government.

According to latest information the death toll due to the devastation caused by the earthquake is 1,280 persons. The number injured is estimated at 5,944 while 32,723 houses/ buildings have been damaged across the state.

The National Crisis Management Committee has been meeting to review the relief effort. The Union Home Minister and the Union Cabinet Secretary have been constantly monitoring the situation in the earthquake affected areas. The MHA Control Room is functioning round the clock. A senior official in the Union Home Ministry, Mr Ashim Khurana, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management) has been designated as the nodal point for all relief related contributions. His contact numbers are 2309 2456 and 98100 93411

The Army, Air Force and central Para Military Forces are providing logistical support and humanitarian assistance to the rescue and relief operations. Medical and Surgical teams from the civil and armed forces have been deployed in the affected areas.

The Union minister for parliamentary affairs and urban development, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad has been requested by the Prime Minister to liaise with the State Government in ensuring timely availability of assistance from the Centre to the State. An inter-ministerial team has been deputed to the State to prepare a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by the earthquake.

Industry Effort

The Principal Secretary to Prime Minister chaired a meeting of representatives of industry associations, including CII, FICCI, Assocham, PHDCCI and took stock of the effort being made by Indian industry.

Till date aid amounting to Rs 25 crore has already been pledged by industry associations and individual business leaders.

Among the major commitments made, industry associations CII and FICCI have pledged donations of Rs 5 crore each, in cash and kind, as an immediate response to the Prime Minister's appeal. Assocham and PHDCCI will be communicating their contribution shortly. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations and the Handicraft Export Promotion Council have donated Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh each. Among the contributions from industry communicated to the Prime Minister, Infosys and ITC have donated Rs 1 crore each, Mr Mukesh Ambani has donated Rs 1 crore, Mr Anil Ambani has donated 1 lakh blankets, Mr Rahul Bajaj has donated Rs 50 lakhs. Gujarat Ambuja and Ashok Leyland have donated Rs 25 lakhs each, Mr Atul Kirloskar and Mr Arun Bharat Ram have donated Rs 20 lakhs each. Several other companies, including the Tata group have communicated that they are in the process of announcing their contribution to the relief effort.

VAT Exemption

The State Governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh will give VAT exemption for all relief materials donated to the J&K relief effort.