New Delhi - SPA
A total number of 3,068 people who went missing
in floods in India\'s northern state Uttarakhand last month will be
presumed dead if not found by July 15, dpa quoted the state\'s chief minister
as saying Thursday.
Vijay to the news channel Bahuguna NDTV that this would enable the
government to stary paying compensation to the families of the
victims.
Official have put the death toll at 900. Bahuguna had earlier said
the exact total may never be known.
Bahuguna said many people went missing in the Kedarnath valley and
bodies could still be buried. \"We will only know when the debris is
removed,\" Bahuguna said.
The meteorological department has warned of heavy showers in the
region over the next few days which are expected to hamper operations
to clear debris, find and cremate bodies and reach an estimated 1,200
villages which remain cut off, officials said.
India\'s monsoon season runs from June to September.