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Up to 8,000 flood victims in India

Over 80,000 people have been currently evacuated from the calamity zone

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

NEW DELHI, June 24 (Itar-Tass) - Rescue operations were suspended on Monday in the north of India where heavy rains have resumed triggering new landslides. According to Indian media outlets, the number of flood victims may reach 8,000 people, and a lot of people remain cut off in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The authorities of Uttarkhand don’t rule out that the number of casualties in the monsoon floods that have continued for already twelve days may reach at least 5,000 people.

However, official reports put the number of casualties from 650 to 1,000 residents and pilgrims heading for sacred sites in the Himalayas.

According to the Asian Age newspaper, the suspension of the operation may result in new casualties. According to the newspaper, over 80,000 people have been currently evacuated from the calamity zone. To save them, the Indian Army and Air Force have carried the most large scale operation in their history codenamed Surya Hope. It has involved dozens of military transport helicopters Mi-8 and Mi-26, An-32 aircraft, army engineers and air landing troops.

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