Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde left New Delhi this morning for Uttarakhand. He will take stock of relief and rescue operations in the flood hit areas of the State. The government has appointed former Union Home Secretary V.K.Duggal as a Nodal Officer to coordinate relief and rescue operations.

About 73,000 people have so far been evacuated from the calamity hit areas of Uttarakhand. Quoting official sources, our correspondent reports that 32,000 people are still stranded at different places. State Government officials say, evacuation in Kedarnath, Hemkund and Ghangharia will be completed today. The focus will then shift to Badrinath whrere 9,000 people are stuck.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said that Special trains are being run and additional boggies added to existing trains to help pilgrims reach their destinations.

In Joshimath sector, army has constructed a temporary bridge across Alaknanda river near Govindghat to facilitate Hemkund Saheb pilgrims to cross over. A road link has been opened from Sonprayag to Gourikund. About 1,000 people stranded in Gourikund are now being evacuated. Army paratroopers have also reached out to people stuck between Gourikund and Rambara.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that arrangements have also been made to send medicines to the affected people.

Meanwhile, death toll in the tragedy has risen to 556. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna told a television channel that 556 bodies have been recovered. He said, it will take 15 days to complete the evacuation as roads are damaged. 48 bodies were recovered from Ganga in Hardwar yesterday.