Dehradun, Sept. 5 -- The Uttarakhand Disaster Management Department has sought a special assistance package of Rs 5,702.15 crores from the Government of India to compensate for damages caused during this year's monsoon and to safeguard infrastructure at risk of future destruction. In this connection, Secretary, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman, has sent a detailed memorandum to the Additional Secretary, Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Suman stated that natural disasters this year have inflicted direct losses estimated at around Rs 1,944.15 crore to various government departments. The Public Works Department (PWD) and many public roads have borne the brunt, with losses amounting to approxim...