Johnny-come-lately

Guess it’s never too late to chip in. Facing much flak for being AWOL from the rescue and relief operations in Uttarakhand, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi cut short his birthday celebrations and returned to join the party at home.

And what better way to make up for lost time than a photo-op during a tragedy. Gandhi, along with mother Sonia, flagged off a convoy of 24 trucks carrying relief material for victims, and later left for Dehradun to overlook relief operations from the control room set up by the Congress.

But by setting off for Dehradun, Gandhi broke home minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s ‘advice’ to all VIPs, asking them not to go to Uttarakhand since such visits hamper relief and rescue operations. 

In plain terms, Shinde laid down the rule: If a VIP refuses to toe the line, s/he may not be given landing permission.

Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury defended Gandhi’s visit, saying he had not gone there as a VIP. “He is going there as a citizen, as the vice-president of Congress to oversee that the relief material reach on time. Rahul [Gandhi] did not say I am a Rambo and I did this and I did that,” she said, referring to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on Saturday. 

Congress sources said Gandhi will also travel to some of the badly-hit areas and meet victims there. Deflecting criticism from his absence hitherto, Congress said one must not lose focus from rescue and relief operations.

About 15,000 people in remote parts of Uttarakhand are still at the mercy of nature. While inclement weather brought rescue operations to a standstill, the meteorological department has warned of heavy rains over the next three days.

The helicopters of both the air force and the army could not be operated. Fresh landslides have blocked major routes being used for evacuation. The official death toll rose to 670, but Shinde feared that the figure may cross the 1,000-mark after the debris is cleared.

Funeral preparations
Authorities in Uttarakhand have been trying to arrange for 50 tonne of wood and ghee to conduct the last rites of those who lost their lives in the floods. Officials believe that the bodies will start to rot if the funerals are not conducted soon
Officials will collect DNA samples from those who have died and their bodies will be photographed so that families can be sure of their identity

Guest appearance
Politicians are latching on to the opportunity to make themselves seen in Uttarakhand. Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, CMs Narendra Modi (Gujarat), Prithviraj Chavan (Maharashtra), Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Haryana) and Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), apart from TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, have visited Uttarakhand in the last few days.