Uttarakhand: Rescue operations hit due to bad weather - Times of India

DEHRADUN: Rescue operations in Uttarakhand have been hit due to bad weather even as 22,000 people are still stranded across various parts of the state. "Helicopters, pilots, food packages everything is ready, but we can't fly because of bad weather," said RC Pathak, Wing Commander. "We may get a window of opportunity for an hour or two to fly, will try to save as many as possible," he added. The Indian Air Force has decided to deploy three C-130J aircraft for flood rescue operations on Sunday. One plane was airborne early morning for a recce mission, while the two others will carry fuel and IAF's Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT) and equipment to set up a mini-hospital at the affected area for urgent medical attention and treatment. Over 73,000 people have so far been evacuated from the flood and landslide-hit areas of Uttarakhand as rescuers intensified their efforts to help those stranded in different inaccessible parts of the hill state. The army is reaching out to the civil population by providing food packets, establishing medical camps and deploying its technically endowed manpower, to ensure that the vulnerable bunds are strengthened and breaches are effectively plugged. With rain predicted in the coming days, the task of ferrying to safety the 22,000 pilgrims and villagers who still remain out of reach has become more daunting. Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna had said on Saturday that the death toll is likely to touch 1000. (With inputs from ANI) via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGmwvUFVUarg58RLfQdKljowl13hw&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Uttarakhand-Rescue-operations-hit-due-to-bad-weather/articleshow/20724902.cms

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