In Uttarakhand, various agencies including army, ITBP and NDRF have intensified their rescue and relief operations in most of the flood affected areas. Army has begun air evacuation of stranded and isolated civilians and pilgrims along Govindghat-Badrinath road and Ghagriya-Hemkund track. Nine Army helicopters have already been pressed into service and additional six helicopters are also being made operational from today onwards. Army and ITBP have evacuated thousands of people in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Tehri, Pithoragrh and Rudraprayag districts. Low visibility and bad weather have affected the operations of helicopters at some places in Rudraprayag. Quoting official sources AIR correspondent reports from Dehradun that about 23 thousand pilgrims and local residents have been evacuated till now by the rescue teams.
In several areas in different districts power and water supply have been restored and road connectivity in Uttarkashi and Tehri has also been opened for pedestrians and vehicles. The Army has conducted uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to the stranded people in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragrh districts. Army has also inducted 12 medical teams and opened emergency medical helpline. Over 10,000 personnel of the armed forces have been deployed for relief and rescue operations in the state where thousands have been stranded at tourist spots and pilgrim centers.
The death toll rose to 150 with fears that it may go up substantially as large parts of affected areas remained under water while hundreds of houses and buildings lay in ruins. The state government in its report to the Union Home Ministry has also expressed its apprehensions that thousands of people were killed in the natural calamity. The government has said that Rudraprayag was the worst affected district and about 500 roads and 175 bridges have been washed out in the flash flood in different parts of the state. Many of the roads are in bad shape due to which army jawans and other paramilitary personnel are unable to reach the stranded tourists and pilgrims. The government has said it would be difficult for the Kedarnath Yatra to be resumed for a year. He said the temple has been saved but there is eight to ten feet of debris all around.
The State Government has set up help line numbers and control rooms in all 14 districts including state capital Dehradun to provide information about flood hit areas and people. Help line numbers at Dehradun are 0135-2717300, 2716201, 2710925, 09411112985 and 09412054085. State Government has also put the names of people rescued from flood hit areas on State Police website: uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in. Army and ITBP have also set up help line numbers for flood affected people.