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This article was first published 11 years ago

Weeks later, sun shines in Uttarakhand; rescue ops gather pace

June 28, 2013 12:23 IST

Image: Soldiers rescue a tourist stranded in flood-hit Uttarakhand
Photographs: Indian Army

With the weather improving, the rescue operations in Uttarakhand picked up pace on Friday, with 17 choppers being flown to evacuate people still stranded at various locations.

Mass cremation of bodies in Kedarnath, the worst-affected in flood fury, was on, as authorities were racing against time to minimise risks of epidemic outbreak.

As the sun shone bright on Friday morning, helicopters took off to rescue an estimated 1,237 people now stuck at different places in the hill state, with the Harshil sector totally cleared of pilgrims. About 3,000 people are still reported missing, officials said.

Complete Coverage: Uttarakhand Disaster 2013

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Weeks later, sun shines in Uttarakhand; rescue ops gather pace

Image: Soldiers load supplies in an army helicopter to build a temporary bridge, during a rescue operation at Joshimath
Photographs: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

The focus now is on Badrinath Dham area, where majority of the pilgrims are now stranded, they said. All major roads except the Joshimath-Badrinath, Rudraprayag-Gaurikund and Uttarkashi-Gangotri routes have been reopened, raising hopes of speedy evacuation, they said.

Army chief Gen Bikram Singh arrived on Wednesday morning at Gauchar to review ongoing relief operations and pay tribute to the 20 soldiers killed in a chopper crash near Gaurikund on Tuesday.

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Weeks later, sun shines in Uttarakhand; rescue ops gather pace

Image: Army men help rescue a tourist who was stranded for weeks following the floods
Photographs: Indian Army

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is also scheduled to arrive in Dehradun to honour the bravehearts who laid down their lives during the rescue operations.

An official estimate said approximately 1,237 persons are now stranded at different places across the state. Till now 1,04,687 persons have been evacuated from different places by road and air.

The process of performing of last rites of those killed in Kedarnath Valley continued, with about 34 bodies being consigned to flames till now, after completion of formalities like their identification and DNA sampling.

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Weeks later, sun shines in Uttarakhand; rescue ops gather pace

Image: Soldiers rescue villagers stranded in Uttarakhand
Photographs: Indian Army

All district magistrates have started distributing 'gratuitous relief' to the affected people, besides trying to ensure adequate availability of kerosene and LPG cylinders, official sources said. Assessment of the damage caused to the public infrastructure is underway, and restoration work is also being taken up on a priority basis.

Free transport is being arranged for all people till they reach their respective destinations, they said. Special counters have been established in Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Haldwani and Kathgodam.


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Weeks later, sun shines in Uttarakhand; rescue ops gather pace

Image: A soldier walks with a boy after a rescue operation
Photographs: Indian Army

Special coaches are also being attached in different trains to help the pilgrims reach their destinations. Free access is being arranged for stranded pilgrims at various places where mobile and landline connectivity is available to enable them to contact their relatives.

Efforts have been geared up to ensure that the near and dear ones of those missing or affected, get updated information regarding the situation on the ground, which is being made available on the state government website (www.uk.gov.in).

Officials said an estimated 3,000 people were missing, and efforts have been intensified to trace their whereabouts. Details and photographs of those missing can be uploaded on the state government website to help authorities in tracking them.

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