Death toll from India floods may reach 10,000

PanARMENIAN.Net - The number of people killed in cloudbursts and flash floods in Uttarakhand recently may cross 10,000 mark, state Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal said, according to India Today.

"Earlier when I returned from a tour of Garhwal region I believed the casualty figure could be 4000 to 5000. But now as per my information and bodies being seen by the people, I can say the figure can cross the 10,000 mark," Kunjwal told reporters.

Though refusing to quantify casualties even 14 days after the tragedy, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has been saying it is feared over 1,000 people might have been killed in the natural calamity.

According to him, the exact number of people killed will be known only after the removal of debris. Kunjwal said arrangements should be made immediately by the government to dispose of the bodies in view of the threat of an epidemic.

However, In New Delhi, Shinde clarified that the toll was 900 according to the information with him. He added that the complete figure on the deaths was not out yet and it would take some days for that.

He said 105,000 people had been evacuated so far from the flood-hit areas.

"We will do combing operations now to see if anyone is left out. The roads are broken, there is no communication... It will take some days," he added.