30,000 still stranded in Uttarakhand

Around 30,000 people were estimated to be stranded in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, officials said. Rescuers scrambled Saturday to evacuate those who are still trapped as met office predicted rains from June 24.

Home Ministry officials said that efforts have been stepped up to rescue the stranded people. They said around 30,000 people were estimated to be stranded and over 60,000 had been rescued.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) spokesperson Deepak K. Pandey said over 9,500 people were still trapped in Kedarnath and the Badrinath region.

He said around 8,000 were estimated to be stranded in Badrinath region.

He said a new ropeway has been installed at Lambagar, about 10 km from Badrinath, to rescue people.

Pandey said stranded people were being brought to Govindghat and then taken to Joshimath through bus and other vehicles. In Joshimath, names of rescued people are being noted before sending them for onward journey to Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh.

He said women, children and elderly were being sent through helicopters while the youth and able-bodied were being helped out through ropeway.

"About 400 persons have been rescued through ropeway since yesterday (Friday)," Pandey said.

He said rescue efforts have been augmented in view of possibility of rain in the region from June 24.