Complete co-ordination in Uttarakhand rescue operations: Government

The government Saturday denied that there was any lack of co-ordination between its agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations in Uttarakhand, while putting the death toll in the flood-ravaged state at 557.

Dismissing reports of lack of co-ordination between different agencies, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told media persons that there was "complete co-ordination" and "harmony" between the different agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations.

Stating that as of now 70,000 people have been evacuated from the flood-hit regions of the hill state, he said: "Let me tell you in unambiguous terms that there is absolute and complete co-ordination between various agencies active in relief operations."

Giving an update on the status of relief and rescue operations, Tiwari put the death toll at 557, with 412 injured. He said that 22,000 people were still stranded in the flood affected upper reaches of the state.

He said that on Saturday, about 10,000 people were evacuated, of which the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the army evacuated 4,000 people each. Of those rescued by the army, 2,000 were from critical areas.

Despite bad weather, the Indian Air Force carried out 150 helicopter sorties till Saturday afternoon, said Tewari, adding that in all, 61 helicopters - 43 of IAF, 11 of army and seven private - are engaged in the rescue and relief mission.