The Jammu and Kashmir [Images] government is exploring possibilities of relocating about 900 homeless families, belonging to the quake-ravaged villages of Tangdhar sector to alternative sites.

Around 900 families, comprising 6,600 people of the seven villages in Tangdhar that were devastated completely in the October eight quake, had asked for relocation and the administration was exploring possibilities of shifting them to alternative sites, top district officials of Kupwara informed state Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha during his visit to the quake-hit areas on Tuesday.

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The Governor, who celebrated Diwali with the quake-survivors, assured the victims of all possible assistance.

"A wave of sympathy is surging all around the country to see you rehabilitated. The entire nation is behind you," Sinha said.

The rescue phase was over, Sinha said, adding that the task of rehabilitation was now being carried out on a war-footing.

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"Our aim would be to make the living conditions of people in the affected areas better than what they were before the earthquake," he said.

All affected families were living in tents or improvised shelter of some kind and the major task ahead was to provide proper shelters for them before the severe winter set in, Sinha said.

During his fourth visit to the affected villages since the massive quake, Sinha was briefed by the civil administration about relief measures while he himself inspected the shelters put up at various sites.

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