"Considering the magnitude of the crisis, the state cabinet has decided that if the missing persons are not found by July 15, we will presume that they are dead and the process of paying compensation to their next of kin will begin", he said.
The exact number of persons missing after the tragedy is 3,064 and the deadline for finding them is July 15, he said.
With the MeT department issuing a warning of heavy rains at places in Kumaon region over the next two days, Bahuguna said that for the next 50 hours the administration needs to be highly vigilant.
250 National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in areas where heavy rains are expected, official sources here said.
According to the MeT department, heavy rains are likely to hit the state on July 5 and 6 especially areas in Nainital, Pithoragarh and Udhamsingh Nagar districts of Kumaon region.