Uttarakhand: Helicopter operations suspended due to bad weather; 22000 still ... - NDTV

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Edited by Mala Das | Updated: June 23, 2013 08:06 IST Dehradun/New Delhi:  Rescuers are racing against time to evacuate nearly 22,000 people who are still stranded across Uttarakhand that saw a massive deluge, triggered by torrential rains last week. 557 deaths have been reported so far, and the toll is expected to rise further. Here are the latest developments in the story: The National Disaster Response Force will use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) today to locate survivors in remote areas that still remain inaccessible. Over 500 are still stuck in the dangerous terrain of Jungle Chatti, in mountains between Gaurikund and Rambara in Kedarnath, which the government has dubbed a point of concern. 500 sorties are also expected to be conducted today to bring back to safety those stranded. While 8,000 pilgrims are awaiting help in the holy town of Badrinath, 1,000 more are stuck in Pithorgarh. Nearly 100 others are stranded at Hemkund Sahib. 900 people also are likely to be evacuated from Barkot today. Rescuers in Kedarnath - one of the worst-hit - are hopeful of evacuating an estimated 300 people stranded en route to the temple town today. 123 bodies have already been recovered by NDRF teams from the Kedarnath temple complex. A medical camp has been set up at Guptkashi in Rudrapayag district which also witnessed massive destruction. Road links have also been established to several areas. But rescue operations are being hampered by bad weather. With intermittent rains over Kedarnath, Badrinath, Dehradun and Rishikesh, helicopter operations have not been possible today. More rain has been predicted over the next two days, prompting Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to set a three-day deadline on Saturday for completion of rescue work. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said all central and state government agencies were working in full coordination and harmony, a point he made hours after Mr Shinde spoke of a lack of coordination. Over 60 helicopters of the Army and Air Force have been pressed into service in what is being considered as the biggest rescue operation launched by the armed forces. Around 10,000 army and paramilitary troops, members of the country's disaster management agency and volunteers are involved in the rescue and relief efforts, Mr Shinde said. Two elite teams of Navy divers - with 12 members each - have also been sent to aid in rescue efforts. 16 more will join them today. Distraught relatives clutching photographs of missing family members have been waiting for days outside the airport at Dehradun, the state capital, hoping for news of their loved ones. (Here's how you can help) Tags: Air Force Army Badrinath Jungle Chatti Kedarnath Kedarnath temple Manish Tewari National Disaster Response Force Rudrapayag Sushil Kumar Shinde Union Home Minister Uttarakhand Uttarakhand flood Uttarakhand rain via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGrQGzCWxN-VJXVX8-mOyB-af_4mQ&url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/uttarakhand-helicopter-operations-suspended-due-to-bad-weather-22-000-still-stranded-383032

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