Evacuation of stranded people from flood-ravaged areas of Uttarakhand today picked up pace with security forces rescuing 17 foreign tourists from Dharasu and sighting 1000 pilgrims stuck between Kedarnath and Gaurikund.
About 32 thousand people are still stranded at different places spread over flood affected districts. 550 causalities in the disaster have been confirmed by the officials.
An official spokesperson has said that evacuation of stranded people from Kedarnath temple area, Hemkund and Ghangharia would be completed today.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who arrived in Dehradun this morning for an aeriasurvey of the affected areas, said Centre will provide all possible help to the Uttarakhand government for rescue and relief operations in flood and cloud burst affected areas of the State.
Talking to reporters Mr. Shinde expressed the hope that all the stranded people in the flood-hit areas will to be rescued in the next one or two days. The Home Minister said the evacuation process has been taken up on war footing.
Mr. Shinde said there is no need to declare the situation as a National Calamity as it makes no difference so far the relief and rescue operations are concerned. He asked the political parties not to do politics on the situation.
Mr. Shinde denied that it was a manmade disaster and termed it as a natural calamity. He also emphasised the need for proper coordination among rescue and relief operation agencies.
AIR correspondent reports, bad weather affected the helicopters operation this morning. Sorties could not take place for evacuation of stranded pilgrims and tourists for several hours.
An army spokesperson told our correspondent that Army rescue team has opened an important road link from Sonprayag to Gaurikund which is the base camp for trek to Kedarnath.
Army Para troopers have also reached out to people stuck in between Gaurikund and Rambada. A 70 member army rescue team is now carrying out search operations in Rambada area. Army has now opened the Rishikesh – Gangotri road up to Uttarkashi.
The state government has set up control rooms in all districts. These include, State Emergency & Operation Centre – 0135-2710334 , 9897890981 , 9152443853; Dehradun – 0135-2726066, 9412964935; Nainital – 05942-231179, 9456714092; And, Rudraprayag – 01364-233727, 9412914875 and 8859504022.
The Uttar Pradesh government has made arrangements for transportation of its natives who are stranded by recent floods and landslides in Uttrakhand.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has instructed the UP State Road Transport Corporation to deploy its officials in Uttrakhand at the places where rescued persons are brought in by helicopters, to facilitate their safe and speedy return.
The Central Reserve Police Force, CRPF, will donate more than 18 crore rupees to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to support the victims of the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand.
An official release issued in New Delhi today said, the officers and the personnel have decided to contribute their one day's salary for the purpose. The release added, the rank and file of the force expressed their deepest concern for the victims of the tragedy.
