Nine trekkers from West Bengal have been found dead in the upper reaches of Uttarkhand and adjoining Himachal Pradesh taking the death toll due to the unseasonal rains in the region to 64.

The bodies of four trekkers from Kolkata in the Sunderdhunga valley in upper Kumaon region of Uttarakhand while another five trekkers who had started their journey from Uttarakhand were found dead in neighbouring Himachal.

Authorities began assessing the damage to personal property, infrastructure and agriculture, as Union home minister Amit Shah carried out aerial surveys of some of the affected regions on Thursday.

Shah, who reached Dehradun late on Wednesday from Ahmedabad, accompanied chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other senior officials.

“During the aerial survey of the affected areas for about two hours, many things came up. At least 64 have died so far while over 11 are still missing. 

The property loss is, however, yet to be ascertained as it requires ground survey by the official which takes time. It would be done by the officials of home ministry along with the state government officials in a couple of days which will then send a report to the Centre for appropriate assistance,” Shah told media persons in Dehradun.