Uttarakhand floods: Toll reaches 550, more rains yet to come

As rescue operations are in full swing and additional IAF choppers were pressed into service, over 50,000 pilgrims and tourists still remain trapped in different parts of the flood-affected areas mostly from Rudraprayag, Tehri, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh districts in Uttarakhand.

Over 550 people are reported to be dead so far. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre has in its report to the Union Home Ministry said that casualties in the affected areas may run into thousands with about 90 'dharamashalas' (rest houses for pilgrims) swept away in the flash floods.

Private chopper deployed for rescue operation crashes in Kedarnath. The pilot of the chopper is safe and there have been no casualties in the incident as no passengers were on board the aircraft. The pilot was reportedly winched by the IAF Cheetah in the vicinity.

Nearly 14,000 people are believed to be missing and another 60,000 are stranded.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna yesterday said there was no clarity on the final death toll, as the rescue teams were still battling the floods and other hurdles caused by boulders along the highways.

"It could be in hundreds. I will tell you (reporters) the exact number once my people have conducted a survey and the Army personnel have come down (from the mountain)," said Bahuguna.

40 helicopters pressed into service to evacuate over 9000 people from Kedarnath and Badrinath areas as the state government said the toll in the rain fury could be "shockingly high".

Addressing a press conference, Chadha said the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the National Disaster Response Force teams were trying to set up a small helipad in Rambada, near Kedarnath, to enable choppers to land and evacuate people.

"We are trying to evacuate people and trying to create a helipad to help people stuck in the jungles in Kedarnath and Gaurikund," Chadha said at a press conference.

Meanwhile, the first army helicopter with food and medicine landed near Kedarnath temple, one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Uttarakhand, which is intact but the shops and homes near the temple are badly damaged.

Uttarakhand Government's website for information on rescue and relief operations

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command, Lieutenant General Anil Chait, yesterday said the Indian Army had launched rescue mission spread over 40,000 square kilometres.

"Indian Army and Central Command have launched one of the largest and most extensive human rescue missions that has ever been launched in the history. It is spread over 40,000 square kilometres," he told the media in Gochar.

45 choppers belonging to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force are being used to airlift and help the stranded people. Soldiers and officers of the Indian Army are helping the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel in the rescue efforts.

The bad weather is, however, making it tough for the helicopters to land and evacuate the pilgrims.

The army personnel have so far rescued more than 11,000 people, mainly from Govindghat and Harsil.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony is closely monitoring the situation and has directed the armed forces to extend maximum possible support in the operations.

About 10,000 people are also being provided food and medical assistance. Over 50 relief camps have been set up for those evacuated till now.

PM's appeal

RT: PM's Appeal: "I request all citizens of India to stand with our distressed fellow countrymen." pic.twitter.com/uUpdixuLoP

— Dr Manmohan Singh (@PMOIndia) June 20, 2013

Immediate priority is rescue and rehabilitation: Rawat after CAG raps Uttarakhand

Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat on Friday played safe on reports that Uttarakhand has had no disaster management plan worth its name despite the region being highly disaster prone due to fragile mountains, tectonic activity and climatic events, saying the priority at the moment is to ensure that the people stranded are rescued and rehabilitated.

Rawat said that he would not like to comment on these matters now.

" I would just like to say that rescue operations are being conducted there with full power. The biggest question before us is to rescue and save the lives of all those stranded there," he said.

The Congress MP from Haridwar said Uttarakhand is working unitedly in the rescue operations.

"It is the nature's rage and everybody understands this. So, the Centre and the state government should at this point of time work unitedly to ensure that those affected are rescued and rehabilitated," he added.

A report released by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as recently as on April 23, 2013 says that the State Disaster Management Authority that was formed in October 2007 has never met till date.

"Nor has it made any 'rules, regulations, policies or guidelines', a preliminary step for the authority to have any functional meaning. The state authorities were virtually non-functional," the report says.

"The state disaster management plan was under preparation and actionable programmes were not prepared for various disasters," the report adds.

The CAG report says that no plan was prepared for any early warnings, and the communication system was inadequate.

The CAG report also draws attention to glaring irregularities in the state disaster response fund.

The CAG said that although the Geological Survey of India had identified 101 villages as 'vulnerable' in June 2008, the Uttarakhand Government did not take any measures for their rehabilitation till date.

Donations from al over:
The Jammu and Kashmir government announced Rs one crore aid to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the people of flood hit states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced assistance of Rs.5 crore for disaster-hit Uttarakhand.

The Uttar Pradesh unit of BJP decided to collect funds for the calamity-hit people in the hill state, where thousands are feared to have been killed. In a statement issued here, state unit president Laxmi Kant Bajpai said that the fund raising campaign would be started with the BJP MLAs donating their one day salary. Bajpai said that the district presidents would send the collected money to the state president, who would forward it to Uttarakhand unit of the party. He said that the party cadres would also extend assistance to the relief work being carried out by RSS and BJP workers in the neighbouring state.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also contributed Rs five crore for relief work among the victims.

Meanwhile, environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan today said the proposal to declare certain parts of Uttarakhand as eco-sensitive needs to be seriously considered.

Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha also volunteered to donate Rs 50 lakh for the rehabilitation of flood-affected people of Uttarakhand.

Chhattisgarh Chief minister Raman Singh announced an assistance of Rs 5 crore to the flood ravaged Uttarakhand, where heavy rains and landslides have created havoc.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi asks party MPs and MLAs to donate their one month salary for Uttarakhand flood-relief.

Gandhi directs all party MPs to give Rs 10 lakh from their MPLAD funds for relief work in Uttarakhand, says Ajay Maken.

Will rescue all trapped in Uttarakhand: Lt.Gen. Chait

While saying that the army was not "god", General Officer Commanding in Chief of Central Command, Lt. Gen. Chait on Friday said that they would rescue everyone trapped in the flood-hit areas of Uttarakhand.

"No more people will die there. We will rescue all those who are stranded. We will trudge every trail, every footpath and bring home anybody who is trapped," Lt. Gen. Chait said at a press conference here.

"We're not god, we are here to serve the people of India in war, peace or natural calamities," he said.

He also sought "wishes" from people to be successful in the mission.

Lt. Gen. Chait said the best army officers have been deployed for the rescue operations and each one of them was equal to four men.

"Those 200 men are equal to 2,000. They are the most elite forces of the army," he said.

However, he added that it was not possible to give a time limit for the rescue operations.

The General said the army will start phase two of its operations Friday evening.

"Bridges have been built to rescue people, bases are being built. We will transport people to safer places. Logistics, petrol, medical support needs to be given," he said.

He said nearly 500 people are stuck at Gangotri, 300 people at Bhairoghati and nearly 1,000 in Harsil.

"In Gauri Kund, skilled mountain troops are carrying out operations. Over 1,500 people are stranded," he said.

Helpline numbers:
Haryana government launched a helpline number +91-172-2545938 at its control room to provide updates, receive and disseminate information about people of the state, who were stranded in Uttarakhand due to the calamity triggered by incessant rains.