CHENNAI, July 15, 2013: The 12 Tamil Nadu pilgrims who went missing after landslides and floods ravaged Uttarakhand in June may be declared dead by the Uttarakhand government as the focus shifts from rescue operations to rehabilitation of victims. 

On Saturday, Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna said that all those who went missing will be declared dead after July 15. It was initially believed that 14 pilgrims from TN were missing, but two of them were confirmed to be dead. There is no information about the rest, who are likely to be deemed dead. "Official reports said the rescue attempts have been completed in all the flood-ravaged regions," said an official of the TN government. "Our control room is still in touch with officials in Uttarakhand and the Centre. District collectors are in touch with the victims' families. Compensation from the state will be announced after the Centre declares its package," he added. 

A total of 503 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu were rescued from the flood-ravaged areas by the Uttarakhand government. The state government opened a control centre at Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to help the victims. Pilgrims who were rescued were taken there and sent to Chennai by special flights. 

"We gathered names and addresses of the people and accommodated as many of them as possible in flights," said an employee of Tamil Nadu House.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 15, 2013.