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13,500 bodies recovered so far: Pandya

Another 1,500 bodies were recovered from other parts of the state, he said adding 14,000 injured have been treated.

Talking to reporters in Ahmedabad, Pandya said the quake had affected a population of 600,000 in Kutch district.

Pandya said the toll of 20,000 is based on the recovery of 12,000 bodies so far, the number reported missing, the estimated number still trapped under the rubble and reports collected by government agencies.

"The figure I am giving you today is the closest to the truth," he said adding "We are not trying to hide anything nor do we want to exaggerate the number."

Pandya hinted the toll might go up with the recovery of some more bodies as some persons were missing or lying under the debris in the devastated areas of Kutch district.

A total of 297 villages were affected in Kutch. The population area-wise is:
Rapar- 25,000,
Anjar-85,000,
Bhachau-35,000,
Bhuj-150,000,
Gandhidham-100,000.

In Anjar alone, 2478 deaths have been reported with the clearance of debris. in Bhachau, 1289 bodies have been recovered.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister L K Advani on Wednesday faced angry crowd as he visited two places in quake-ravaged areas where people demanded adequate security against looters trying to grab unattended property and adequate relief materials.

In Bhachau in Kutch region, one of the most severely-hit areas, he was confronted by a group of residents who sought deployment of the army to protect them from looters who attacked them and fled with whatever was left of their belongings.

They complained that bands of looters were operating in the area where the destruction was enormous.

Advani assured the people that all efforts would be made to protect them and directed the accompanying officials, including those of the Border Security Force, to take immediate steps in this regard.

Agitated residents of Gandhidham town also gheraoed the home minister complaining of 'gross neglect' by the state administration in respect of rescue and relief operations.

Advani directed state Urban Development Minister Parmanand Khattar, who was accompanying him, to personally look into the complaints.

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