Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba paid a flying visit to Arghakanchi district headquarters Tuesday morning and inspected the carnage left behind by a vicious Maoist attack on Sandhikarkha.

Deuba, who is also Defence Minister, instructed officials to strengthen security at the headquarters, reports from the area said.

Security forces Tuesday continued to pursue rebels trying to flee to the dense forests of Baglung and Pyuthan for shelter from Arghakanchi. Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka accompanied Deuba.

IGP Pradip SJB Rana, IGP Armed Police Force Krishna Mohan Shrestha, Col. Kalayan B. Rayamajhi, home and defence secretaries also accompanied Deuba.

At least 60 security personnel and a civilian have been officially confirmed dead and another 100 are still missing in the fierce rebel attack on joint security forces since February this year.

Sandhikarkha, which is situated at the confluence of two rivers at the foot of a steep hill, looked like a bombed out town after the fleeing rebels bombed all government buildings, expect the hospital.

Simita Karki, 19, was widowed 24 hours after her marriage to policeman Kazi Bahadur Rawat who was killed in Sanphebagar.