Uttarakhand floods: 4 from Maharashtra dead, 158 still missing

Four pilgrims from Maharashtra have died and 158 others are still missing in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, where rescue efforts have ended.

A total of 3,014 persons from Maharashtra were in Uttarakhand when heavy rains and landslides struck the hill state, a major pilgrimage and tourist hub, on June 16, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam told reporters.

"Of these, 2,852 have returned home, 158 are still missing and four are confirmed dead," he said here.

The State Government has sent a list of missing persons to Uttarakhand authorities, he said.

"They will officially declare the list of missing persons and the compensation. Maharashtra will announce a compensation package separately after the list is declared."

Kadam said the maximum number of missing persons hail from Aurangabad revenue division (71) followed by Nagpur (44), Pune (28), Konkan (7), Nashik and Amravati (four each).

Meanwhile, the Minister felicitated a team of 48 bureaucrats and doctors from Maharashtra which worked in relief camps in Dehradun and also assisted Uttarakhand authorities in rescue operations after the natural calamity, which claimed lives of hundreds of people. The team was led by Principal Secretary (Environment) R A Rajeev.

A massive relief operation involving Indian Air Force and several state and Central agencies was launched after flash floods and heavy rains devastated Uttarakhand.