Shimla, June 7 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday announced financial assistance of Rs.500,000 to the families of each of the seven martyred soldiers from the state who lost their lives in a militant ambush in Manipur last week.

Asserting that the Himachal government would extend all possible help to the family members, Singh said they were national heroes as they had sacrificed their lives for the nation.

Pointing out that the hill state had always been contributing significantly towards the armed forces of the country, he said the people of the state were proud of its brave soldiers who had always also shown exemplary courage in various operations to guard the frontiers of the country.

State Social Justice and Minister Dhani Ram Shandil was present at the last rites of Sepoy Sohan Singh at his native village Manpura-Devra in Paonta tehsil of Sirmaur district.

He condoled with the bereaved family members and assured all possible assistance from the state government.

Later, he visited the house of Naik Ashok Rana at Dakasna village in Haripurdhar sub-tehsil of Sirmaur district and spent some time with his family members.

Shandil, on behalf of the state government, received the bodies of the seven martyred soldiers in Chandigarh on Saturday evening.

The other five martyred soldiers from the state were Sepoy Manoj Kumar, Havildar Prakash Chand and Sepoy Vikas Bhardwaj from Mandi district, Naik Rajneesh Singh from Kangra and Havildar Rajesh Kumar from Bilaspur district.