Vaishno Devi shrine board to help out Leh victims

JAMMU - The Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is to provide Rs.50 lakh for the relief of victims of the cloudburst and flashfloods in Leh, an official said.

“The money is being released by the shrine board on the directions of Governor N.N. Vohra,” an official of the board told IANS Saturday. At least 180 people were killed in the Aug 6 flash floods and mudslides in Leh.

Vohra is chairman of the shrine board that manages affairs of the Vaishno Devi shrine.

The governor’s directions came Friday after he concluded his three-day visit to the flood-hit parts of Leh. During his visit, he met the affected with people and listened to their problems.

Most of the people told the governor that they wanted shelters before the onset of winter.

“It was in this context that the governor asked the shrine board to provide the people with 5,000 heavy quilts and also money up to Rs.50 lakh,” the official said.

According to Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, the situation in Leh has started improving but it would take a lot of time before things are back on track.

The Vaishno Devi shrine is visited every year by nearly eight million pilgrims from all over the country. The annual offerings at the shrine are estimated at Rs.25 crore.