NDRF, ITBP rescue 32,772 people in Uttarakhand

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel have so far rescued 32,772 people from different areas of Uttarakhand following landslides and floods, an official said Monday.

Of the 32,772, including pilgrims and residents, 26,538 were rescued by ITBP while 6,234 were evacuated by NDRF personnel till Monday afternoon.

"The rescue operation is still on in Harsil and Badrinath areas where 15,00 and 5,000 pilgrims are still stranded respectively. Other areas of Uttarakhand have been fully evacuated," an NDRF official said.

Some 50 to 60 holy men are still in Kedarnath because they are not willing to leave, said the official.

NDRF personnel Monday rescued 126 people from Harsil.

"Due to cloudy weather and drizzling, air evacuation was hampered. Pilgrims are being evacuated through ropeways," ITBP Director General Ajay Chadha told IANS.

Chadha said that ITBP personnel have prepared three ropeway bridges between Hanuman Chatti and Lambgarh across Alaknanda river.

"Of the 26,538 people rescued by ITBP, 1,509 people were rescued Monday between 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. through ropeway bridges," said Chadha.

ITBP evacuated 269 bodies while the NDRF team recovered 125 bodies till Monday.