Urumqi (China), July 26 (Xinhua) China has opened six hotlines to provide counselling service to the families of the victims of the July 5 ethnic riots in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, authorities said.

The hotlines were opned Sunday by the regional health bureau in Urumqi, the provincial capital, which witnessed the week-long violence that left 197 people dead and hundereds injued.

The hotlines will be operated by the regional psychiatric health center, the People's Hospital of Xinjiang and the No 1 hospital affilliated to the Xinjiang Medical University.

About 60 psychiatrists will provide riot-specific counselling for 24 hours every day to the family memebers of the deceased and those who were injured in the violence.

Another 40 counselling service providers will aid citizens with non-riot related issues.

Since July 6, psychological intervention has been provided to 156 people injured in the riot, according to the regional health bureau.