The Union Health Ministry is sending a high level medical team today to assess the public health measures in Uttarakhand in the wake of the recent flood.

The Ministry said, district units of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme and National Rural Health Mission have found no outbreak of water borne, food borne, air borne or direct contact diseases in the affected areas. The Ministry is also procuring 10 lakh chlorine tablets for the State.

The death toll in yesterday's Air Force helicopter crash in Rudraprayag district, has risen to 12. Earlier, 8 bodies were recovered from the accident site.

The Air Force has already initiated a court of inquiry into the incident and it will be conducted by a Wing Commander or Group Captain level officer from the force.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condoled the death of the Jawans.Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the IAF chopper crash in Kedar valley Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has announced a compensation of 10 lakh rupees to the kin of security personnel killed in the mishap. Gujarat Government has also announced financial assistance of 5 lakh rupees.

Meanwhile, more than 97,000 stranded pilgrims have, so far, been evacuated from Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath Valley and Pithoragarh districts .

The state government has said that around 5,000 pilgrims are still stranded at Badrinath and Harshil in Gangotri valley. State Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar has said that all remaining stranded pilgrims will be evacuated by Friday evening.

Above 2,000 pilgrims were evacuated by the Army, Air Force, ITBP and NDRF from Badrinath, Gangotri and Pithoragarh yesterday.

Our correspondent reports that foggy and overcast conditions in the affected areas have hampered the rescue operations today. He adds that foggy and overcast conditions in the affected areas has delayed take off by choppers consecutive third day today.

Agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations have concentrated their search, relief, rescue and evacuation operations in Badrinath and Gangotri valley and Pithoragarh.

In view of forecast for bad weather rescuers have planned evacuation of pilgrims by foot as sorties will be remain affected during morning hours. It may resume in the day hours if weather condition progresses.

In order to speed up evacuation, a steel foot bridge across Alaknanda River at Lambagad in Badrinath Valley is being constructed by the Army. Army has also continued its operation to relocate people in Pithoragarh district.

Army, NDRF and ITBP teams are also engaged in combing operations in areas from where stranded pilgrims have been evacuated.

They have not found any stranded pilgrim at Kedarnath valley during the two day combing operation from Gaurikund to Kedarnath temple.