The death toll from the devastating earthquake in India's northern Jammu and Kashmir state more than 850 Monday, as rescuers and relief workers made desperate efforts to reach badly-hit villages and scores of homeless people exposed to the cold, DPA reported. India's Home Ministry put the number of fatalities at 865. State Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya told reporters that 722 people were crushed to death in the villages of Uri and Tangdhar in worst- affected northern districts of Baramulla and Kupwara. The two devastated districts are close to Pakistan-administered Kashmir's capital Muzaffarabad, the epicentre of the 7.6 magnitude tremblor. Nearly 14 villages in these districts, which bore the brunt of the damage caused by Saturday's quake, still remain inaccessible as landslides have blocked approach roads. NDTV network reported that an Army post collapsed in Tangdhar in Kupwara district killing 12 soldiers. At least 50 soldiers, 38 from the Army have been killed in the disaster. Villages like Tangdhar, Keran and Karnah in Kupwara district and Uri in Baramulla were turned into ghost towns. The stench of death pervaded the areas which were almost flattened by the quake. State officials said more deaths are feared once rescuers report back from these districts. Unconfirmed reports put the death toll in India as high as 1,000. "We are making all-out efforts to reach remote areas. It is a big disaster and we have to face it with all the force at our command and will in our hearts," Bakaya said. As many as 100,000 people have been left homeless. In some villages, people were angry that the state government had not provided any relief. However, defence officials said mobile medical teams with medicine, dry rations and tents have been despatched to remote areas to provide succor.
