Srinagar: Even as it finally stopped raining on Sunday, after five days of continuous downpour, reports of more deaths and destruction poured in from across the state. More than 150 people are reported to have died in the last six days, while thousands are stranded.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and top officials soon after arriving in Jammu on Sunday, announced an additional special assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the state. Describing it as a “national level disaster”, he said, “More assistance will be provided, if required, after a proper survey of the situation has been made.”

The PM and CM later conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the Valley. In Srinagar, Modi said Rs 5 crore would be provided from the PM’s relief fund for the flood-affected people.

The Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have intensified relief operations. According to the Udhampur-based Defence Ministry spokesman, Colonel S D Goswami, the IAF had pressed into service 29 planes and helicopters including one C-17 Globemaster, three IL 76 aircraft and boats for relief and rescue operations.

A total of 850 personnel have been airlifted to the flood-hit areas of the state, he said, adding that three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft have also been deployed to transport boats from Pune and Gandhinagar to Srinagar, and 10,000 blankets and 3,000 tents from Kanpur to Jammu and Srinagar. The Army has moved in 200 columns and evacuated more than 15,000 people from different areas of the state so far, he said. As the state struggled to deal with the enormity of the situation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged people “not to panic”. “Please do not panic, I promise that we will reach you,” he said.