Bahuguna to declare 5,400 missing as dead

Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna on Wednesday met prime minister Manmohan Singh, and sought Rs 13,800 crore from the Centre for reconstruction and relief work in the state at the first meeting of the cabinet committee on the issue. Bahuguna said his government has decided to declare 5,400 people, who are still missing after the flash flood tragedy, as ‘presumed dead’ and give them compensation.
‘5,400 people are still missing. Out of these 924 are from the state. These are presumed to be dead and Rs 5 lakh cheque each will be given to their family members. FM said LIC should be asked to expedite insurance claim,’ Bahuguna said.