Dehradun/New Delhi: The National Disaster Management Authority
on Sunday said that the death toll in Uttarakhand floods might cross
10,000. "Like the Speaker said, it could be more than 10,000. The exact
number, however, cannot be known immediately," NDMA Vice Chairman
Shashidhar Reddy said. He added that as many 1500 people are still
stranded in the hill state.
Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal had said on
Saturday that he fears that more than 10,000 people could have been
killed in the calamity. "When I returned from Garhwal, I said the death
toll could be between 5000 and 10,000. But now I think the death toll
could be more than 10,000," he said.
While there has been no clarity yet on how many people lost their
lives in Uttarakhand floods, conflicting figures are emerging about the
number of missing people also. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay
Bahuguna on Sunday claimed that as many as 3000 people could be missing
in the floods but the NDMA pegged the figure at 1800.
"After compiling the data, I've been informed that around 3000 people
are missing. If a person is not found in 30 days, the state government
will give compensation to the family. About 1335 villages still have no
connectivity or aid," Bahuguna said.
The Chief Minister also said a team of 200 people has been
formed, including doctors, which will take DNA samples of the dead
bodies found. Bahuguna added that out of 4200 villages, connectivity has
been restored in 2865 villages. Relief material is being provided
through choppers to rest of the 1335 villages, he said. He further
clarified that there are no report of an epidemic anywhere.
The NDMA Vice Chairman said that among the 1500 people who are
stranded at various parts of Uttarakhand, there are many locals also.
"According to the figures 1,07,670 people have been rescued so far. The
road between Badrinath and Rambada has been repaired while a stretch in
Lambagad is being repaired," he added. The road from Joshimath to
Govindghat has now been restored and pilgrims are being evacuated on
foot. But there is confusion over the number of pilgrims on ground.
The rescue operations in Uttarakhand are set to wind by Monday
and the focus of the security forces has shifted on saving 2000 people,
who are still stuck in the higher reaches. However, evacuated pilgrims
claim that far greater number of pilgrims are stranded than what the
officials have been stating.
According to the Indian Air Force, 842 people were rescued from
Badrinath on Saturday even as air sorties were stalled briefly due to
bad weather and many pilgrims in Badrinath were evacuated on foot
through a newly constructed foot track in Govindghat valley. Harsil was
fully evacuated on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has claimed
it issued several advisories to the Uttarakhand government, warning it
about the massive landslides and rains that have ravaged the state,
killed hundreds of people and swept away houses.
"We had issued warnings on June 14 and since then we have been
regularly issuing advisories. The warnings were even published in
newspapers and a press release was also issued," Uttarakhand MeT
department Director Anand Sharma said.
A Congress leader on Sunday claimed there was "poor coordination"
among the rescue teams in Uttarakhand. "There was poor coordination in
the rescue operations. Authorities in one area did not know the progress
of operations in other areas. I kept asking the state authorities
including the Chief Minister for immediate air support. Speedy action by
the state government would have been effective," Pradeep Tamta said.
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