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.

ITBP DIG Amit Prasad told reporters at Gauchar that foot tracks are being built in an area of about 50 kms near Badrinath to evacuate stranded pilgrims.

Disaster management authorities in Dehradun said as the Kedarnath Valley has been totally cleared of stranded pilgrims, 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.

The toll in the unprecedented tragedy yesterday rose to 680. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna says the casualty figures may touch the 1,000 mark given the massive scale of devastation.

Mr. 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.

He said, the bodies being recovered from different places in the state will be disposed of as per traditional rituals and a 'mahayagya' will be held in Haridwar on the 13th day of the tragedy for the peace of the departed souls.

This was suggested by the Sant Samaj when Bahuguna and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde met them in Haridwar yesterday.