Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai on Sunday announced Rs 1 lakh as relief package to each of the families of those who lost their lives in yesterday's massive flood in Seti River of Kaski district.

PM Bhattarai, who reached the district to inspect the flood affected areas as well as assess human casualty and damages to properties caused by the flood, also announced Rs 25,000 as emergency relief fund to those who have been rendered homeless after the flood swept their houses away.

Similarly, he also assured that the government will shoulder all medical expenses of those who were injured in the tragedy in which 15 lost their lives and many more are still missing.

PM Bhattarai also told the flood-affected families that the search and rescue team has intensified search operation for the people who have gone missing in the flood in Seti River reportedly triggered by avalanche in Annapurna mountain range on Saturday. The teams of Nepal Police, Nepal Army and local people have been involved in the rescue operation in the flood affected area.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has also formed a committee headed by home secretary Sushil Jung Rana to coordinate the response actions being taken on behalf of the government in the aftermath of the Seti flood in Kaski district.

Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had left for flood affected site of Sardhikhola VDC this morning on Nepal Army helicopter.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the Seti flood has reached 15 till Sunday morning. Over three dozen people, including three Russian tourists are still missing in the flood.

However, authorities involved in search and rescue mission say the chances of finding anyone among the missing is getting increasingly slim. nepalnews.com