US offers help in reconstruction efforts in flood-hit Uttarakhand

The US on Thursday expressed its intention to lend a helping hand in the reconstruction efforts under way in calamity-hit Uttarakhand.

US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and conveyed to him the US government's desire to help the state in the ongoing rehabilitation works in education, IT, health and tourism sectors.

Bahuguna thanked the US diplomat for the kind gesture and apprised her of the steps taken by the state government to bring life gradually back on track after the June deluge.

Things are returning slowly to normal and the Char dham pilgrimage has been resumed, Bahuguna told her.