PM takes stock of Sikkim situation

Singh, who leaves for New York on a six-day visit tomorrow to attend the UNGA Summit, discussed with his cabinet colleagues the situation in the northeastern state.
The meeting is understood to have deliberated on the ways to help the quake-affected people and about relief and rehabilitation measures.

Home Secretary R K Singh and the ITBP chief are understood to have briefed the meeting about the relief and rescue operations. Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony and Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi are among those who attended the meeting.

Prior to the meeting, Singh spoke to Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and assured him that the Centre would do everything needed to deal with the situation.
The prime minister's telephonic talk was the second since the powerful quake devastated Sikkim.

Singh has announced ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh for the kin of those killed in the quake and Rs one lakh for those injured.