Uttarakhand floods: Death toll may cross 10,000, says Speaker

FP Archives • June 29, 2013, 18:35:21 IST

Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal said arrangements should be made immediately by the government to dispose of the bodies in view of the threat of an epidemic.

Uttarakhand floods: Death toll may cross 10,000, says Speaker

Almora: 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 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 in Almora.

IAF helicopter drops off logs for mass cremation. Image courtesy PIB

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.

PTI

Written by FP Archives