Rs 1,951 crore released for flood-hit Maharashtra, Karnataka as disaster relief

NEW DELHI: In view of heavy rainfall and displaced people losing their livelihoods, the Centre on Sunday released Rs 1,951 crore for the state disaster relief funds of Maharashtra and Karnataka.Home minister Amit Shah said govt was fully committed to providing all possible assistance to states affected by flood, landslides and cloudburst. He has approved advance release of Rs 1,950.8 crore, as a second instalment of the central share of SDRF, to the two states for 2025-26. Out of this, Rs 384 crore has been approved for Karnataka and Rs 1,566 crore for Maharashtra to help them provide immediate relief assistance to people affected by extremely he-avy rainfall and floods during this year’s south-west monsoon.This year, the Centre has, so far, released Rs 13,603 crore to 27 states under SDRF and Rs 2,189 crore under National Disaster Relief Fund to 15 states. In addition, Rs 4,571 crore has been released from State Disaster Mitigation Fund to 21 states and Rs 372 crore from National Disaster Mitigation Fund to nine states.The Centre has also provided logistic assistance, including deployment of requisite National Disaster Response Force teams, Army teams and Air Force support to all states affected by flood, landslide and cloudburst. During this year’s monsoon, there was maximum deployment of 199 teams of NDRF in 30 states/UTs for rescue and relief operations, the home ministry said.