Locals desperate to flee flood-hit Uttarakhand

Rescue agencies are facing tough challenge from local residents of various villages of Uttarakhand as they too are fleeing the affected areas along with stranded tourists and pilgrims.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police chief Ajay Chadha, on the fifth day of the rescue operations in the flood-ravaged state, said they have rescued around 25,000 people from Kedarnath temple area since Thursday.

"Local villagers are now coming out from their habitations as they want to leave the troubled zone. They are also being rescued along with those who are stranded," Chadha told reporters in New Delhi as he briefed about the operations.

Chadha said agencies are now trying to expand and make big helipads in various parts of the state so that helicopters like Mi-17 can land and dump more load of food and water while ferrying back more people. He said some 500-700 people are still present in Kedarnath area waiting to be rescued.

"The rescue operations should take two to three days more. We are successful in rescuing more and more people as weather is getting better and logistics are improving," Chadha said.

He said 350 people were airlifted from Gaurigaon while 276 people were rescued from the Rambada area near Kedarnath.   

The ITBP, which has deployed around 1,000 men for these operations, has also built a rope bridge between Joshimath and Badrinath to take out people who are lost or are taking shelter in view of inclement weather.

Chadha said ITBP is now focusing on building more and more bridges and creating connectivity between important areas.  He said more helicopters have been pressed for rescue missions.

Image: A survivor pleads with a soldier to allow him to board an army helicopter, during rescue operations at Badrinath' Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters