19 from MP dead in U'khand, 707 missing: state

A total of 19 pilgrims/tourists from Madhya Pradesh have died in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand while 707 were still missing, the state government today told the High Court here.
Government today submitted a report to the division bench of acting Chief Justice K K Lahoti and Justice Subhash Kakde.
The Court had issued a notice to the state government, Uttarakhand government and the Centre after taking suo motu cognisance of newspaper reports about the tragedy in the hill state and sought replies.
According to MP government, 1,193 pilgrims had returned safely, 983 were stranded but safe in the hill state and 707 were still missing.

The government also said a team of 50 officials, led by Public Relations Minister Laxmikant Sharma, was heading the relief and rescue operations for MP pilgrims in Uttarakhand while the central government lawyer told the Court that a petition had been also filed in the Supreme Court on the issue.