Weather improves in Uttarakhand as army and ITBP personnel launch biggest rescue mission in recent times

The Uttarakhand flash floods are shaping up to be the worst tragedy to strike the Himalayan state. But with the weather improving on Wednesday, rescuers picked up speed with relief operations.

The death toll crossed 150 on Wednesday, but disaster management officials said considering the devastation, it is likely to exceed the figure of the 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake, in which nearly 2,000 died.

“The real picture will emerge once the relief and rescue teams from the army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) reach and cover all the areas in Kedarnath, Badrinath and Gangotri. Right now, the need is for quick action to rescue people who are stranded as they can die of cold, hunger and wounds,” said a disaster management official.

“We are yet to reach some places. The intensity of flash floods and landslides was unprecedented,” said ITBP director general Ajay Chaddha.

About 10,000 people have been evacuated from affected regions. About 5,500 people are stranded in Kedarnath, over 2,800 in Harsil–Gangotri area, and about 2,500 and 15,000 on the Hemkund and Badrinath axis, respectively.

The army has deployed about 5,500 personnel, ITBP 2,000 and Border Roads Organisation has pressed 3,000 personnel into action. Thirteen teams (300 personnel) of the National Disaster Response Force have also been deployed.

The Indian Air Force has provided one C-130J aircraft, eight MI-17s, 10 ALH, one AN-32 and one Avro to carry out rescue work.

Army teams will first rescue stranded people and then concentrate on those stuck in Badrinath and Ghaganriya by June 20. “Focused air evacuation will then commence from both places from June 21,” said Allahabad-based defence spokesperson Basant B Pande.

PM Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday did an aerial survey of the devastation. Singh announced an ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh each to the families of victims and Rs50,000 to those injured. He also announced Rs1,000 crore for Uttarakhand for disaster relief.