Uttarakhand floods: Don't visit state as it hampers relief, Sushilkumar Shinde appeals to VIPs

In the wake of the worst natural disaster in the country this year, Uttarakhand still lies wounded from the devastating floods and landslides that occured in the past week.

The entire country suffered a huge loss as pilgrims from all over were visiting the worst affected Badrinath and Kedarnath areas.

The Indian Armed Forces (IAF) has put to use some of the best military skill-sets to great effect in the flash-flood affected zones of Uttarakhand and rescued hundreds of fatigued and exhausted stranded tourists almost seven days after the tragedy struck the Kedar Valley.

The Army on Sunday evacuated all 1000 stranded pilgrims in the mountain folds around Jungle Chatti in Kedar Valley.

The progressive effort of the IAF for 'Óp Rahat' shows a total of 1088 sorties flown, 8222 persons airlifted and about 1,48,550 kg load dropped /landed.

The state's disaster management and mitigation minister Yashpal Arya Uttarakhand denied reports that quoted him as saying that he feared the toll was nearly 5,000. “The enormity of disaster is so big that the toll could be more than the present figure. However, the picture is likely to be more clear in the coming days” he said.

So far, more than 80,000 people have been evacuated to safety.

Also see: Nation's heroes come to the rescue in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand

Developments on this big story:

* More than 500 people are stuck at Gaurikund, but efforts to bring them back to safety had to be aborted following heavy rains in the region, an army official said. Eight choppers of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were pulled back from rescue operations following heavy rains and inclement weather in Devprayag, which made flying dangerous and at places impossible. Owing to heavy rains water levels have once again risen in Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers in the Rudraprayag region. Other parts in the state, including Pithoragarh, Nainital, Champawat, Udhamsinghnagar and Haldwani, have also received widespread rains on Monday.

* According to TV reports, 15000 still remain stranded in flood hit Uttarakhand as rescue operations have been suspended due to the bad weather conditions.

* Rahul Gandhi to visit flood-hit Uttarakhand today.

* Heavy rainfall has been reported in Nainital. UAVs deployed to search for stranded survivors in Uttarakhand, heavy rains lash Dehradun.

* Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde says death toll will rise after debris is cleared in Uttarakhand.

* VK Duggal of the National Disaster Management Agency who has been sent in as the Nodal officer to coordinate relief efforts, held a meeting with all state and central agencies involved in rescue work, and said that there were no major gaps. There are really no gaps in coordination. All agencies are doing their best. They have done remarkable work,barring some operational issues, which have been addressed”, said Duggal speaking to media after the meeting. Duggal added that his role was not the implementation of rescue work, which was being handled by the MHA, adding instead that his role was to coordinate between agencies and the state government wherever necessary. Duggal said that he would also facilitate communication on relief efforts between the central agencies and state government.

* Up to 1,000 people are feared dead and more than 8,000 mainly pilgrims and tourists are still awaiting rescue nine days after flash floods and landslides caused by torrential monsoon rains hit the state of Uttarakhand. Priests are planning to cremate hundreds of flood victims today.

* Congress president Sonia Gandhi flagged off trucks carrying relief materials to calamity-hit Uttarakhand.Trucks carried food articles, medicines, clothes and blankets for the flood-affected people. A Congress leader said: "The relief material was collected by the youth Congress and Congress workers from Delhi and Haryana and it has been carried in 125 trucks." Party vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were present.

* With rescue efforts severely hampered because of bad weather, the government of Uttarkhand says that a further 7,000 people are stranded near Badrinath. Meanwhile Finance Minister P Chidambaram has hit out at criticism of rescue efforts. “We cannot prevent a natural calamity. However, after the calamity we are working round-the-clock in rescue and relief operations…the jawans are working hard under difficult conditions….it is not like sitting in airconditioned rooms and writing for newspapers,” the Finance Minister said.* Two minor landslides have occurred between Rudraprayag and Guptakashi road, and that bulldozers have been pressed into service to clear them. Another minor landslide has also been reported from the Rishikesh- Uttarkashi route.

* Bad weather is, as expected causing problems for rescue workers. Air operations have been halted, and though ground operations are continuing, the threat of further landslides and flooding is a very real danger

* Air rescue operations have been temporarily suspended as rain continues in the state. However ground operations are continuing.

* The National Disaster Management Authority will chair the first meeting of state and central agencies with a view to coordinating rescue and relief efforts. Uttarakhand authorities are reportedly trying to arrange for as much as 50 tonnes of wood and as much volume of ‘desi ghee’ to conduct the last rites.

* The met department predicting of more rain in Uttarakhand. The rescue of thousands stuck in the flood hit regions unfortunately could be delayed.

* Uttarakhand government will not allow any state to make unilateral efforts to evacuate its citizens stranded in the hill state, a move that comes in the midst of war of words on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's claim that he had rescued over 15,000 people.

* Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde advised VIPs not to visit rain-ravaged Uttarakhand saying such visits created difficulties in relief and rescue operations.

* An emergency all-party meeting should be convened to discuss a plan of action for extending maximum support to flood-hit Uttarakhand, BJP national general secretary Varun Gandhi said in a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.