Official Quake Toll Cut by More Than 20%
From Times Wire Reports
India lowered the estimated death toll from its January earthquake by more than 20% to 15,537, blaming counting errors and fraudulent claims.
The previous estimate from the magnitude 7.7 quake, which devastated parts of western Gujarat state, was 20,085.
Immediately after the Jan. 26 temblor, officials estimated the toll at more than 30,000. Defense Minister George Fernandes had speculated that the toll could be as high as 100,000 because thousands were feared buried under debris.
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