The earthquake-devastated Indian state of Gujarat said at least 18,000 people were confirmed dead and another 1,000 were missing after last month's massive quake.
Federal government estimates of the death toll range around 30,000 but officials say the exact number may never be known because of the number of bodies buried by rubble.
Large parts of the state were devastated when the January 26th quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scalestruck.
The death toll is rising as bodies continue to be retrieved from the ruins of collapsed buildings and people report deaths of relatives.
READ MORE
Relief has poured in from other parts of India and abroad but the federal and Gujarat governments have been criticised for not responding faster to the disaster.
