Missing will be presumed dead by July 15: U'khand CM

Pegging the number of pilgrims missing after the recent natural calamity in Uttarakhand at more than 3,000, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Thursday said if they don't surface till July 15 they will be presumed dead.

"Considering the magnitude of the crisis, the state cabinet has decided that if the missing persons are not found by July 15, we will presume that they are dead and the process of paying compensation to their next of kin will begin", he said.

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The exact number of persons missing after the tragedy is 3,064 and the deadline for finding them is July 15, he said. He said the process of payment of compensation to the families of those killed in the disaster will hopefully be completed by July 30.

With the MeT department issuing a warning of heavy rains at places in Kumaon region over the next two days, Bahuguna said that for the next 50 hours the administration needs to be highly vigilant.

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About 250 National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in areas where heavy rains are expected, official sources said. According to the MeT department, heavy rains are likely to hit the state on July 5 and 6 especially areas in Nainital, Pithoragarh and Udhamsingh Nagar districts of Kumaon region.

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