Visiting cloudburst-hit Leh, President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday lend a comforting shoulder to the survivors of the flood disaster assuring all help in their rehabilitation and appealed to them not to lose heart.
“We are with you at this time of tragedy. I have come to meet you. We love and sympathise with you,” she said while distributing shawls and sweaters to people living in the relief camp here after she flew into the flood-hit region.
Interacting with the survivors at the camp, Ms Patil said they will be given all possible support for their rehabilitation and that the country stands in solidarity with them.
The cloudburst on the intervening night of August 5 and 6, led to flash floods and mudslides which claimed around 175 lives and injured about 400 people, besides causing widespread damage to public and private property.
“We want you to be courageous to face this tragedy. I have been told about your problems here. Be it the Central or the state government we are ready to help you.”
“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had come to meet you, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah had also come to meet you... I want to assure you whatever they have said will be done. People of India are with you at this time of tragedy,” Ms Patil said.
After meeting the President, 32-year-old Raziana Uzang living at the camp said, “We just hope that life gets back to normal before the winter season...I hope that after the President’s visit, the restoration work will surely be done fast.”
The President was briefed by civil and military officials about the relief and rehabilitation operations as she took stock of the restoration works.