The Uttarakhand Government has decided to set up a rehabilitation and reconstruction authority to develop areas which have been destroyed by the recent flash-floods. The decision to this effect was taken at the state cabinet meeting, held in Dehradun yesterday. Our correspondent reports that the Chief Minister of the state will be the Chairman of the authority.
The Centre has said that funds will not be a constraint for rebuilding Uttarakhand, which recently witnessed the worst ever floods. Several hundreds have been killed and property worth crores destroyed in the calamity.
Most of the pilgrims stranded at Badrinath have been evacuated. In Pithoragarh district, sorties of helicopters could not take place following inclement weather. The state weather department has forecast heavy rain in many places on 5th and 6th of this month.
The government has said that people still stranded are expected to be evacuated by this evening. About 10 small helicopters have been pressed into service for dropping food packets and other essential items in the affected areas.