The government has announced a financial package of Rs Rs100 million to facilitate the search and rescue missions in earthquake-hit Jajarkot and West Rukum districts.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha earlier on Saturday. District authorities in Jajarkot and West Rukum will be provided Rs50 million each.

The meeting was attended by top officials from different ministries and security agencies.

According to Umakanta Adhikari, the information officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the amount will be provided through the National Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Authority (NDRRMA). The amount will be spent through the District Disaster Management Committees.

So far, 95 people have lost their lives in the disaster in Jajarkot while the death toll in West Rukum stands at 43, Adhikari said. As many as 150 people have been injured in Jajarkot, and 144 more in West Rukum. Of the injured, 15 are being treated in Province Hospital Surkhet while 19 others were taken to Nepalgunj.

Personnel of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed in search, rescue, and relief management operations in areas affected by the devastating 6.4 magnitude earthquake that jolted west Nepal at 11:47pm on Friday.

Similarly, the Bagmati Province government has also decided to provide Rs15 million in aid to the victims of the disaster in Jajarkot.

The said amount will be provided through the Karnali Province government, and is aimed at assisting the local authorities in relief management and rescue operation in this time of emergency, said Bagmati Chief Shalikram Jamkattel.

Likewise, the Nepali Congress has also announced Rs5 million financial support to the government to help in the search, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts, said Krishna Prasad Paudel, the party’s chief secretary.