Death toll is much higher, says ITBP chief

In what seems to be more bad news, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Ajay Chaddha said death toll in the Uttarakhand flash floods may be “substanitally higher” than the stated figure, Shishir Gupta reports.

In what seems to be more bad news, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Ajay Chaddha said death toll in the Uttarakhand flash floods may be “substanitally higher” than the stated figure.

He said with several areas around Kedarnath, Gaurikund and Rambada having been wiped out and no reports from Pithoragarh-Darchula axis available, the situation may be worse. An ITBP camp in Saboli near Pithorogarh was also washed away in the floods.

Chadda said ITBP had pressed around 1,000 men in rescue efforts and successfully rescued 4,000 persons from Gobindghat and another 700 persons from Rudraprayag. The ITBP chief did an aerial survey of Rudraprayag area but had to return soon to Dehradun due to bad weather.