Uttarakhand floods: Rajnath Singh demands swift action

Expressing serious concern over the present situation in Uttarakhand where the flash floods have claimed over a hundred lives and left thousands of pilgrims to Himalayan shrines stranded, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh on Wednesday urged the Centre and the state government to help the flood victims as much as possible.

Rajnath Singh said that he has asked the BJP workers to organise relief camps and give immediate help to the flood victims. He asked the Government of India and Uttarakhand to help the flood victims as much as possible.

Another BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said the Central Government lacks the manpower to deal with the disaster of such magnitude.

"The most important thing is supply of food medicines and shelter. This has to be done immediately. And I don't think that the Uttarakhand Government can do this on its own. The Centre has to come their help. They must get liberal help and I think the relief should also be provided from all quarters," said Joshi.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are conducting an aerial survey of rain-ravaged areas in Uttarakhand today.

The situation created by the heavy rains and floods in the state was discussed at the Congress Core Group meeting on Wednesday morning.

On the steps being initiated by the government to provide help to the victims, Union Home Minister Sushi Kumar Shinde today said that IAF helicopters have been deployed to evacuate stranded people from Gaurikund in Uttarakhand while a control centre has been established in Badrinath.

He said, food packets and blankets have been sent and local doctors arranged, for people in the flood-affected areas.

The Prime Minister spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna last evening, and assured all assistance in rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit state.

Dr. Singh has also directed all agencies of the Union Government to assist in rescue and relief operations in the flood affected areas of the state.