NDRF local agencies continue rescue ops

Search operations continued on the fifth day today after a massive landslide in Himachal Pradesh's Kotrupi in which two buses were swept away, killing 46 people.
The state officials said almost all bodies were recovered and operations were continuing to ensure that no deceased was left untraced.
Forty-five bodies were identified with the help of forensic experts and one body remained to be identified.
Search operations were underway by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the state police, home guards, and other agencies, the officials said.
Meanwhile, local people claimed that the threat of another landslide loomed large and some houses are under threat.

However, the Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam dismissed the claims, saying there was no major threat and people in the four adjoining villages have been asked move to safer places.

A local, Dola Ram, whose house was swept away in the landslide, said his wife and two daughters managed to save their lives but his cattle and 35 bigha of cultivated land was washed away.
Another displacedperson, Sita Ram, said, "We have been given shelter in a quarter at Urla where there are already 8- 10 persons and no relief has been given."
However, D D Sharma, Special Secretary and Director, Disaster Management said Rs 50 crore have been released to all deputy commissioners for relief and compensation to all those affected and no affected person would be left out.

He said the DCs have been issued clear instructions that the amount be disbursed immediately and not deposited in banks.
Meanwhile, weather remained dry in the region but day temperatures rose by one to two degrees andrecorded a high of 35.5 degrees Celsius, breaching the 35 degrees mark after seven days.