HYDERABAD/VIJAYAWADA: The number of pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh who died in the flash floods in Uttarakhand has gone up to 19 on Friday even as control rooms set up in districts continue to receive complaints about missing people. Eight of the dead pilgrims are reported to be from Krishna district.


The district-wise break-up of deaths reported so far is: Krishna 8, Visakhapatnam 6 and one each from Khammam and Anantapur. The identity of three more dead pilgrims is yet to be established. 

As many as 636 pilgrims have reached Delhi from Uttarakhand and the state government has made arrangements for their return home. Official figures show that still 2,419 pilgrims are stranded in the hill state and some of them have lost contact with their families. Reports from Kadapa, Nellore, Anantapur, and West Godavari indicate that many of the pilgrims, who could not get in touch with their relatives in the last five days, contacted them on Friday giving them a sigh of relief. 

Source: The Times of India, DT. June 22, 2013.