India contributes Nu 250m towards disaster relief fund

January 27: The government of India contributed Nu 250 million towards the disaster relief fund of the royal government.

Presenting the cheque to Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley yesterday, the Indian ambassador in Bhutan described the contribution as a “small token of our deep concern” for the devastation caused by the earthquake in Bhutan last September.

The ambassador said that India appreciated the efforts made by the royal government to bring succor to those afflicted by the earthquake and hoped that India’s contribution will help reinforce the effort.

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said he accepted the contribution on behalf of a large number of people – old, young and children – whose lives were adversely affected by the earthquake. The plight of the royal government, he added, was as desperate as the victims in terms of funds needed to carry out the reconstruction and rehabilitation works.

The PM conveyed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and the government of India for the contribution.

The earthquake has left in its wake damage and destruction amounting to about Nu 2.00 billion while, earlier, cyclone Aila unleashed damages to the tune of Nu 1.00 billion.

India contributed Nu 100 million as its support to relief effort during cyclone Aila bringing the total contributed for the two disasters to Nu 350 million.

source: bhutan observer