Rescuers step up operation to reach out to stranded pilgrims between Kedarnath and Gaurikund

Rescuers were today racing against time to reach out to 1000 stranded pilgrims sighted in the gorges and ravines between Kedarnath and Gaurikund as 17 foreign tourists were evacuated from flood-hit Dharasu in Uttarkashi district.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who arrived in the Uttarakhand capital to review rescue efforts with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, said operations are underway on a war footing to evacuate about 40,000 pilgrims stranded in various places and set a three-day deadline to the agencies involved to complete the evacuation process.

The death toll in flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand crossed 550 yesterday and was expected to rise today as an eight-member team of experts is being sent to Kedarnath shrine to take a count of bodies lying in the temple area.

Disaster Management authorities here said that photos of the bodies strewn all over the area will be taken and put on the state government's official website.

Officials said about 1000 more pilgrims stranded in Rambara and Junglechatti areas en route to Kedarnath shrine in Rudraprayag district were sighted by security forces.

These people seem to have taken refuge in the gorges and ravines in these areas when the massive deluge occurred nearly a week ago.

Hungry for days, many of those sighted are ill and and in need of immediate medical care, official sources said, adding the sick and ailing among will be evacuated on a priority basis.

Principal Secretary of State Disaster Management Authority said a total 0f 73,000 pilgrims and tourists have been rescued till date.

Apart from the 40 choppers in operation, the Rajasthan government has also given two choppers and 30 buses for evacuation of pilgrims.

The Gujarat government has also put into operation two chartered planes 747 Boeings (Jet Airways) with a capacity of 140 persons each to ferry pilgrims from the state stuck in high altitude areas to Ahmedabad.

Chopper operations were hampered here early this morning with overcast conditions delaying the programme of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who was to undertake an aerial survey of the affected areas in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts.

A control room for pilgrims from Gujarat has been set up at Shantikunj Haridwar.