Uttarakhand flood: Toll reaches 842

Uttarakhand flood: Toll reaches 842, rains halt rescue operations in Kedarnath

The flood-ravaged Uttarakhand has reached its last leg of evacuation as over four thousadn are still missing and hundreds continue to be stranded. Around 4,650 are still reported as missing in the devastating floods that have claimed 842 lives so far, official figures state. Till now, 1,04,687 persons have been evacuated from different places by road and air.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who yesterday offered his condolences to all the brave hearts killed in the chopper crash, announced that the Centre would provide more funds to Uttarakhand for rehabilitation and restoration of infrastructure damaged by flash floods.

He said that priority would be given to evacuate the sick, old and disabled people, a large number of whom are stranded in the Badrinath area. Shinde, who also reviewed rescue and relief operations, gave an assurance that IAF choppers will remain in the hill state for another 15 days and continue to provide support.

Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, yesterday said that the rescue operations would continue till the last person is evacuated. "Our endeavour is to locate all our citizens, wherever they are, and get them out," he told the media in Gauchar. The Army Chief earlier held interaction with his officers and men. Meanwhile, Union Rural Development Ministry has announced a special package under Indira Awas Yojana for Uttarakhand.

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in a letter written to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said his ministry has doubled the allocation of housing units by adding another 14 thousand. Over one lakh people have been rescued in the last 14 days since floods and torrential rains ravaged Uttarakhand. But more than 1000 people still remain stranded in the holy town of Badrinath. Another 1800 are reported to be missing.

Developments on this big story:

* Weather conditions once again interrupted the crucial resuce operations in flood-hit Uttarakhand as intermittent rains in Kedarnath and Guptkashi hampered the process of clearing of debris and pulling out of bodies lying underneath.

* Adding to the problem, water level in Bhagirathi river is rising continuously, because of which as many as 70 families residing along the river banks had to be taken to safer places.

* Meanwhile, weather conditions in Joshimath improved which aided air rescue operations. Officials have said that improvement in the weather will help them evacuate all the stranded people in the area.

* The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started pulling out most of its aircraft from the area keeping some of it on standby at Dharasu and Gauchar.

* Even as people continue to remain stranded in the rain-hit state, the Army Chief assured that the armed forces will stay till all the people are rescued from the area. "We are getting information that there may still be some survivors in certain areas. But endeavour is to locate all our citizens, wherever they are, and get them out," he told reporters in Gauchar.

* Connectivity is a major problem in the area as the massive floods have completely destroyed roads and foot tracks.

* Rs 195 crore-package was announced by the government for reconstruction of the 'Char Dham' pilgrimage circuit, which was badly affected by the floods. Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi said the fund will be spent for renovation and reconstruction of the sacred pilgrimage sites of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, and its surrounding areas and the roads connecting it.

* Meanwhile, mass cremation of bodies continues to take place in Kedarnath which was the worst-affected in flood fury.