The Centre today appointed the former Union Home Secretary V K Duggal as the nodal officer for relief and rescue operations in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand. After an hour-long review meeting on relief and rescue operations, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said there is an impression that lack of coordination among different agencies involved in the relief and rescue operations is hampering the government's mitigation efforts. Mr Shinde said, Duggal will operate from Dehradun from tomorrow.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Shinde said, 34 thousand people have been evacuated in the flood-hit state. The Home Minister said, more than 49 thousand are still stranded and 207 people confirmed dead in the disaster. He said, 44 helicopters are currently deployed in the affected areas for relief and rescue operations. Mr Shinde added that more troops can be deployed if needed in the state.

AIR correspondent reports, the review meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Home, Defence, Food, Surface Transport and National Disater Management Authority which decided that all-out efforts will be made to give relief to the affected people by making available all infrastructure and materials.

The Home Minister will visit Uttarakhand tomorrow to oversee the relief and rescue operations.