NEW DELHI: A three-member NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) team which visited areas affected by the earthquake in Kashmir has found that the Central and State Governments as also the security forces and civil society did rise to the occasion and provided some `immediate relief' to affected persons.

The team, comprising G.S. Rajagopal, Director-General (Investigation), Ajit Bharihoke, Registrar (Law) and A.K. Parashar, Deputy Registrar (Law), submitted a report to the Commission after visiting Tangdhar and Uri for spot assessment of relief and rehabilitation measures.

"Children may fall ill"

According to the report, unless shelters are provided immediately people with weak constitution and children exposed to cold may fall ill.

The report recommended that the State Government set up centralised collection and distribution centres where relief material could be received from non-governmental organisations and private agencies.

Steps urged

It said the Centre should take steps to ensure that building material required for repairing damaged property is made available at the earliest.

Where tents cannot be made available, the Central and State Governments should ensure that temporary shelters with essential amenities are provided. The report wanted the Centre to consider the feasibility of constructing houses with pre-fabricated building material.

Children orphaned

The team found that the quake had rendered some children orphans, but said the possibility of parents of such children being alive cannot be ruled out as some injured persons were shifted for treatment.

It recommended that the State Government prepare a computerised list of such children, ensure that widows and young girls are not exploited, and help rehabilitate them.

The State Government, it said, should prepare a computerised list of dead and missing persons to help their next of kin claim proper relief.

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