Machilipatnam, July 7, 2013: District Revenue Officer L. Vijaya Chander on Friday said that 12 pilgrims belonging to the Krishna district have not been traced so far during the rescue operations in Uttarakhand.

He told The Hindu that the number of missing pilgrims hailed from Krishna district has gone up from 9 to 12 and two persons died in the tragedy. Since the rescue operations are said to be concluded in Uttarakhand, officials have come with actual number of victims from the district.

On the other hand, Machilipatnam MP Konakalla Narayana told newsmen that “the State government has taken a timely decision to extend financial support to the victims’ families. If the missing persons will not come back by July 15 the Government will release compensation to their families. We will contact the authorities to get the compensation released,” said Mr. Narayana who returned from Uttarakhand. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was urged to increase the compensation for Uttarakhand victims from Andhra Pradesh.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 7, 2013.