Union Sports Minister M S Gill expressed grief over the loss of life and property in the flash floods in Leh in Jammu and Kashmir and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 20 lakhs to be spent on those in distress.

He announced the relief from his MPLAD Funds.

“Leh, and villages, in the Valley have had a great disaster. As a mountaineer, who has spent many pleasant days there, I am most distressed. Financial resources and sustained relief work will be needed. As a Member of Parliament from Punjab, I have MPLAD Funds. I hereby sanction Rs 20.00 lakhs, to the Leh Administration, to be spent on those in need,” Gill said in a statement.

“I have written to Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Minister of State, Statistics and Programme Implementation, to allow me to send this money immediately,” Gill said in a statement.

The cloud burst that occurred between the intervening night of August 5th-6th, leading to subsequent flash floods in Leh, has so far claimed 170 victims.