In Uttarakhand all stranded pilgrims will be evacuated by Friday evening. 500 pilgrims were evacuated today. Addressing a joint press conference Member of National Disaster Management Authority NDMA member and former Union Home Secretary VK Duggal and Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said this evening at Dehradun that bad weather and rains today affected relief and rescue operation by air. He said big MI 17 helicopters could not evacvate in any disaster affected areas. 8 air force personnel were killed when a MI 17 helicopter crashed at Gaurikund at Kedarnath valley. The helicopter was in rescue operation in the area.

Authorities have begun preparations for mass cremation of those who died in the tragedy. About 822 people have lost their lives in the natural calamity.

Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry is sending a high level medical team tomorrow to flood hit Uttarakhand to assess the public health measures. The Ministry said that three Central Public Health Teams are already in the State and eight additional teams have been kept ready to move at short notice. It said, District units of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) 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.