Over 37,000 rescued by ITBP, NDRF in Uttarakhand

In the 11 days after devastating floods and landslides in Uttarakhand, personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have rescued 37,640 people from the calamity-hit area.

"A total of 31,000 pilgrims have been evacuated by ITBP personnel while 6,640 people have been evacuated by NDRF from different locations in Uttarakhand," said ITBP Director General Ajay Chadha Thursday.

Chadha said that the rescue operation is still on in Badrinath and Harsil axis.

"The joint team of ITBP and NDRF are evacuating the pilgrims by using sorties from today (Thursday) as the atmosphere is better than Wednesday. Some of the stranded people are being evacuated through ropeway and by other means," he said.

The ITBP chief said that around 2,000 to 2,500 people might be still stranded in Badrinath and Harsil area and they will be fully evacuated in two-three days.

Chadha also praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for calling up him and the NDRF chief.

"The honorable prime minister called us Wednesday and assured to give full support to the family of the personnel who died in the Mi-17 chopper crash," Chadha added.