Raichur, Oct 10 :
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Saturday announced Rs 1,000 crores assistance to Karnataka state to take up flood relief works after undertaking an aerial survey of the rain-ravaged areas in northern districts. The Prime Minister, who flew over the rain battered villages in Belgaum, Gadag, Bijapur and Davanagere along with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, made the announcement at a press conference here. Singh also reviewed relief works initiated by the state government at a meeting attended among others by Yeddyurappa, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily and M Mallikarjun Kharge and state Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje.
He also announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia to each of the families of victims of the unprecedented floods which left 226 people dead and caused large scale devastation. Singh said a Central team would soon be deputed for an on-the-spot assessment of the extent of damage to grant more funds to the state.