U'khand: Rain hits rescue operation, many still stranded

Dehradun, June 24: The rescue operation affected as their was heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand, the rescue choppers also came to halt due to the bad weather forecast.

Landslips at number of places including the higher reaches of Pauri, Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts today hit rescue operations in Uttarakhand where 10,000 survivors still remained to be taken to safety.

Not a single chopper has so far been able to take off from Sahasradhara helipad to rescue stranded pilgrims at Badrinath and affected pockets adjacent to it.

The same is the situation in Guptkashi and Gauchar from where no helicopter has so far been able to take off because of a thick veil of mist enveloping the area and intermittent rains.

Fresh landslips at Badrinath highway has also choked the route.

Kedarnath Valley, the temple town which was the epicentre of the floods and landslides, was yesterday cleared of all stranded pilgrims in stepped up rescue operations.

"At least 5,000 people must have been killed in the deluge that inflicted heavy damage on vast tracts of land especially in Kedarnath valley" , Disaster Management minister Yashpal Arya said.

The official death toll as of yesterday was put at 680 while Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said the death toll is likely to be around 1,000.

OneIndia News

(with Agency Inputs)