India FLoods Death Toll Could Rise to 1,000
indian troops are helping to
rescue people trapped by the
floods
BBC
The death toll in flash floods and
landslides in northern India could
climb to 1,000, officials have warned.
More than 600 people are
confirmed dead with more than
40,000 still said to be stranded in the
mountains of Uttarakhand State,
reports the BBC.
Survivors are being airlifted from the
worst-hit areas and special trains are
also carrying people to safety.
Search and rescue efforts have been
stepped up as more downpours are
expected.
Early monsoon rains in India this
year are believed to be the heaviest
in 60 years.
Vijay Bahuguna, chief minister of
Uttarakhand state, told the BBC he
feared at least 1,000 people had
died.
He has also denied a claim by
Indian Home Minister Sushil Shinde
that the rescue effort had lacked co-
ordination.
Meanwhile, officials said that the
severely damaged Hindu temple
town of Kedarnath had now been
cleared of survivors and teams were
searching for the bodies of victims.
The BBC's Nitin Srivastava in the city
of Rishikesh says the biggest
problem for rescue workers is the
difficult mountainous terrain and
the continuing poor weather.
Tourists and pilgrims were among
those caught up in the floods, which
washed away homes, roads and
bridges.
Many of those affected by the floods
are accusing the government of
neglect. Friends and relatives of
those still missing have been
protesting outside government
offices, our correspondent adds.
One woman who was rescued by
army helicopter said she had walked
at least 25km (15 miles) trying to
escape the floods.
"The army was fabulous, they
helped us so much. They even
carried people across in their arms
and they are helping us out till now,
but the government did not do
anything to mitigate our problems,"
said Malika Devi, quoted by Reuters.
Government officials say more than
33,000 people have already been
rescued from the worst-hit areas
over recent days.
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