Rescue operations on in Uttarakhand, over 150 people feared dead

The rescue operations are in full swing in Uttarakhand where the death toll in the rain and floods has gone up to 150 as thousands of pilgrims still remain stranded.

Personnel of the Indian army have begun air evacuation of isolated pockets along Govindghat -Badrinath road and Ghagriya -Hemkund track. Nine army helicopters have been pressed into service and an additional six helicopters would be operational from today.

The army, which has also inducted 12 medical teams and opened an emergency medical helpline, has conducted two days of uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to stranded people in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts.

Over 10,000 personnel of the armed forces have been deployed for the relief and rescue operations.

Brigadier A. Arora yesterday told reporters in Chamoli that the roads in the calamity-hit region were washed away by landslides.

"At many places, the roads are broken and washed away by the landslide. We have parked the vehicles in those places of the roads, which are intact. The pilgrims are being evacuated on foot and are being taken to Joshimath, where we have arranged for food and emergency medicines," he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi made an aerial survey of the worst-hit areas in the state.

Expressing serious concern over the entire incident, Singh also announced Rs 1,000 crore disaster flood relief for the state where flash floods have claimed over a hundred lives and left thousands of pilgrims to Himalayan shrines stranded.

"I have decided to provide an amount of Rs. 1000 crore to Uttarakhand for disaster relief, of which Rs. 145 crore is being released immediately. I have also directed all central agencies to render all possible assistance in their domain to the State," said Singh.

The Prime Minister said the immediate need is for rescue and relief operations and the government will not spare any effort in this regard.

Singh further said 'the Central and State Governments will continue to work in close coordination to ensure that every possible effort is made not only to provide immediate relief to the affected persons but also to help them reconstruct their lives'.

"Ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those who have lost lives and Rs 50,000 each to those who have been injured will be provided from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF)," said Singh.

"Further, we will also provide from the PMNRF ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 1 lakh each to those whose houses have been completely destroyed and Rs. 50,000 each to those whose houses have been damaged," he added.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna yesterday said he was not in a position to give the exact estimate of death and destruction that he said was unprecedented in the state.

"It will take months to improve the situation in Uttarakhand after the relief works. Our main concern is that the tourists should be safe. Phone calls are coming in from all over the country. Many state chiefs have come forth with help and I thank them for that," said Bahuguna.

"The main problem here is that since the roads and the bridges are damaged, how will the people be rescued? Now the helicopter is the only medium. More than 20 choppers are there. They are from the Air Force, our personal (government) ones and some brought on lease," he added.

Bahuguna further said the first priority is to rescue the stranded people especially those on pilgrimage from various parts of the country, distribution of medicines and rehabilitation and compensation for the affected.

The Uttarakhand Government has set up helpline numbers at Dehradun to provide information about flood-hit areas and people. The helpline numbers are 0135-2717300, 2716201, 2710925, 09411112985 and 09412054085. The Uttarakhand Government has also put up the names of people rescued from flood-hit areas on the state Police website www.uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in.