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Rediff.com  » News » Sonia to visit quake-hit areas of J&K on Sunday

Sonia to visit quake-hit areas of J&K on Sunday

By Onkar singh in New Delhi
October 08, 2005 23:34 IST
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Congress President and chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi, would visit the quake-hit areas of North Kashmir on Sunday and meet the injured persons in the hospital in various parts of the state.

Over 300 persons have lost their lives in Kashmir due to earth quake struck Northern states of India at 9.25 AM on Saturday.

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"I do not have full details of her programme but she is visiting North Kashmir particularly Baramula and Tangdhar, where maximum deaths have taken place so far. According to information available with us, more than 300 persons have lost their lives so far and we fear that the figure could go up once the relief and rescue operations begin on Sunday," Mehbooba Mufti told rediff.com on phone from Srinagar.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the chief of the staff of the army General J J Singh are also expected to accompany Sonia on the tour.

Minister for parliamentary affairs Gulam Nabi Azad has already reached the valley and would received the Congress president when she arrives at Srinagar airport, from where she is expected to go directly to Baramulla and other places.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced a relief package of Rs 100 crore for the state after a cabinet meeting late Saturday evening.

The decision was announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy after the meeting.

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Onkar singh in New Delhi