After a brief suspension due to bad weather early in the morning, the rescue operations in rain- hit Uttarakhand resumed today on a war footing to evacuate 22,000 pilgrims still stranded in high altitude areas. About 70,000 pilgrims have been evacuated so far from the worst-hit Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts.
Official sources said, in view of the MeT department warning of light to moderate rain at places, rescue efforts have been stepped up. With a number of breached roads now repaired, evacuation process is likely to be quickened as many stranded pilgrims are now being shifted to safer locations through road routes as well. Quoting official sources AIR correspondent reports that about 90 people have been rescued from Harshil and Dharasu in Gangotri region by the air force helicopters.
Thousands of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims are stranded in the different parts of the district. Five helicopters have been pressed into service for evacuation in Badrinath region. In Uttarkashi district evacuation is also taking place from Maneri and Bhatwadi are and three helicopters have been pressed into operation. NDRF has started recovery of bodies buried under debris from Kedar valley and Kedarnath temple area. All pilgrims, tourists and local residents stranded at Ghanghariya in Chamoli district and Gangotri in Uttarkashi have been completely evacuated, reports AIR Correspondent.
ITBP DG Ajay Chadha told reporters that NDRF team is making a helipad near Kedarnath to rescue people. He said that there is no coordination problem betwen the Centre and the state authorities. Mr. Chadha said the meeting with the Chief Nodal Officer, Mr. V.K. Duggal will help in coordination efforts.
Disaster Management authorities in Dehradun said the focus has now shifted to Badrinath where nearly seven to eight thousand pilgrims are still stuck.They have been provided with enough food material and medicines. Death toll in the unprecedented tragedy yesterday rose to 680. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said, the casualty figures may touch the 1,000 mark given the massive scale of devastation. Bahuguna also said the rehabilitation of Kedarnath shrine is a top priority of the government and it will be carried out after taking suggestions from the Archaeological Survey of India.
Several state governments have provided helicopters and buses for the evacuation of pilgrims and pledged to provide financial assistance for relief and rehabilitation. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa today announced a contribution of five crore rupees to Uttarakhand government towards flood relief.
The Met Department has predicted rain in Uttarkhand tomorrow. The inclement weather in the disaster-hit area has posed a big challenge in the rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has hailed the services of paramilitary forces for their role during natural disasters. Speaking on the opening of the fourth reserve battalion of Central Industrial Security Force in Tamil Nadu today, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said, in Uttarakhand, more than 38,000 square miles of land was ravaged by rain floods and thousands of people have been rescued by army along with paramilitary forces like BSF, ITBP.
