Uttarakhand Flood: hundreds feared killed, choppers can’t reach

Mangalore Today/NDTV

Kedarnath, June 20:  Though 120 people are reported dead so far from the "Himalayan Tsunami" in Uttarakhand, officials say they expect the death toll to eventually hit the thousands. Many parts of the state where people are stranded remain inaccessible. 65,000 people are waiting to be rescued.

Kedarnath - the epicentre of the devastation - remains near-impossible to reach.  Bad weather this morning has prevented military helicopters from landing here.

90 soldiers were air-dropped here this morning. They are carrying communication equipment, medicines and food. Army helicopters dropped 2000 food packets in areas near Kedarnath today.

 

 

 

 

 

Houses, multi-storied buildings, cars, bridges as well as roads have been swept away or badly damaged after rivers burst their banks.

Over 5000 people remain trapped in and around the famous Kedarnath temple. Pilgrims were headed here to visit the 1000-year-old shrine before it closed for the monsoon, which arrived two weeks early and with relentless force. Another 15,000 are stuck in Badrinath and nearby areas.

The Kedarnath temple is submerged in slush and mud, but is not damaged. But because roads all around it have caved in, the temple will be off-limits for a year, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahugana said on Wednesday.

This time of year is when Hindu devotees visit Uttarakhand in huge numbers for the char-dham yatra, or a pilgrimage to the four holy sites of Gangotri, Kedarnath, Yamnotri and Badrinath.

More than 10,000 people have so far been rescued in efforts led by the Army and the paramilitary forces, who are continuing with rescue operations against all odds. 22 helicopters are being used to air-lift and help stranded people.

Local officials said 40 relief camps have been set up to provide food, water and other aid to locals and tourists. Air force helicopters from different parts of the state are taking many of those rescued to the camps, with a control centre set up in the holy town of Badrinath.

The helplines for Uttarakhand are: Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Chamoli: +919808151240, +919837134399; Pauri, Haridwar and Nainital: +91999779124, +919451901023; Almora, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh: +919456755206, +919634535758; Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary 9837542221