Fresh rains, landslides and cloud bursts have impeded rescue operations in flood ravaged Uttarakhand. Over 10,000 people are still reported stranded at different places.

The bad weather grounded most of the big military helicopters from bringing people to safety, however some small helicopters managed to evacuate around 150 people from Badrinath, Pandukeshwar and Lambagar in Chamoli district.

Reports from Chamoli said that it was raining in the higher reaches hampering rescue operations. Besides rain and landslides, a cloud burst was reported in Mulan village in Pouri following incessant rain. Many houses have collapsed but there is no report of any casualty so far. Home Minister Sushil KUmar Shide today said that death toll in the flood ravaged state may cross 1000 mark after the debris is cleared.

The National Disaster Management Authority has called for developing more precise observational and forecasting capability by Metrological Department to avert such disasters.

The Vice Chairman of the Authority Shashidhar Reddy said on Monday more lives could have been saved if the weather office had issued precise forecast. Mr. Reddy admitted to gaps in disaster preparedness level of the agency as pointed out by the CAG.

AIR correspondents covering the disaster ravaged areas report that the pain and fear is writ on the faces of villagers living in the hills of Rudrapryag. Many people are looking forward for their near and dear ones who were working in Kedarnath area. At many places, stretches of forests and small hamlets have been flattened by the landslides.