After an aerial survey of the affected areas, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a Rs 1,000 crore aid to the state where large-scale devastation has occurred.
The terrible magnitude of nature's fury in Uttarakhand unfolded as the death toll rose to 150 with fears that it may go up substantially as large parts remained under water while hundreds of houses and buildings lay in ruins.
After an aerial survey of the affected areas, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a Rs 1,000 crore aid to the state where large-scale devastation has occurred.
Skies cleared today enabling stepping up of rescue and relief operations but the efforts were hampered by the vast destruction of the roads caused by landslips and flash floods that damaged hundreds of houses, buildings, hotels and government guest houses.
Helpline numbers for flood-hit North India
Several thousand pilgrims from across the country are still stranded in the state as reports came that the Kedarnath temple, one of the four holy dhams, was intact but the temple complex and the Rambada area around it have suffered total destruction.
"Very heavy casualties are feared and I cannot give the exact number without a proper survey," said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who described the flood ravage as unprecedented caused by a "Himalayan tsunami".
Singh and Congress President made an aerial survey of the affected areas and described what they saw as "most distressing".
He announced Rs 1,000 crore aid for the state for disaster relief of which Rs 145 crore is being released immediately.
"I have also directed all Central agencies to render all possible assistance in their domain to the state," he told reporters on his return.
The Prime Minister said it is feared that the loss of lives could eventually be much higher.
"So far, more than 10,000 people have been rescued and are being provided food, clothing and shelter. Many persons still remain stranded. The maximum damage has been in Kedarnath and its vicinity," he said.
Bahuguna, who described the scale of the devastation as unimaginable, said it would take one year for normal yatra to Kedarnath to be restored.
The first priority is to rescue the stranded people especially those on pilgrimage from various parts of the country, distribution of medicines and rehabilitation and compensation for the affected, he said.
Uttarakhand Principal Secretary (Home) Om Prakash said the death toll in the state has gone up to 150 but was not in a position to give the exact estimate since several villages in Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts in the upper reaches were still under water.
The government has also pressed into service 22 helicopters to airlift those stranded by flash floods.
The state and Central governments have deployed all possible resources to deal with the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
About 5,500 jawans and officers of the army, 3,000 men of the Border Roads Organisation and 600 ITBP personnel are engaged in relief and rescue efforts.
The government also cancelled the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra of batches 2 to 10.
Thirteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been put into work. The Air Force has deployed 18 helicopters and C130 aircraft. Private helicopters are also being engaged by the state government.
Railways decided to press services of special trains to rescue people stranded due to the flash floods at Haridwar, Rishikesh and other areas.
Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has instructed the Railway Board to do whatever possible to rescue people from the flood affected areas, said a senior Railway Ministry official.
The Punjab Government today hired a private helicopter to airlift the pilgrims stuck at Sri Hemkund Sahib and its surrounding areas and rushed a four-member team to coordinate the operations to rescue the Sikh pilgrims.
Maharashtra government announced Rs 10 crore aid for the stranded pilgrims from the state.
As many as 1,353 pilgrims from Maharashtra are stranded of whom 334 are still not traceable, government sources said in Mumbai, adding the remaining 1,019 pilgrims could be contacted.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also announced Rs 25 crore help to the hill state.
The state governments have also launched helpline numbers in their respective states to give updates on the whereabouts stranded of pilgrims and tourists.
Karnataka Government despatched a three-member team to ensure safety of affected people from the state "We are in constant touch with the Centre and Uttarakhand government to get information on the safety of our people stranded in Uttarakhand," chief minister Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bangalore
Former Minister Shobha Karandlaje is among the scores of people from Karnataka stranded in Uttarakhand. She, however, is safe, according her family sources.
The Chattisgarh government has sent two senior officials to extend every possible help to around 50 stranded pilgrims.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs two crore as the state's contribution to the relief operations in Uttarakhand.
The famous Kedarnath shrine located in the Himalayan ranges in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand is safe but will remain out of bounds for at least one year, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said.
Gujarat's Resident Commissioner in Delhi Bharat Lal has deputed two officials to coordinate relief efforts and reach out to pilgrims and tourists from the state who are stranded in Uttarakhand.
A team of senior officials of the Gujarat government would visit Uttarakhand to help people from the state who are stranded in various parts of Uttarakhand and coordinate their return to Gujarat.
Modi also requested Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge to start emergency counters and helplines at Haridwar, Dehradun and New Delhi railway stations for people who are rescued from the flood-hit areas.
He requested Kharge to provide additional coaches in various trains or start special trains so that the rescued people can travel back to their homes.
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