Uttarakhand: Air Force completes pilgrims’ evacuation at Badrinath

Mangalore Today/CNN-IBN

Dehradun, July 2: The Air Force today evacuated the last batch of 150 pilgrims from the temple town of Badrinath, more than a fortnight after heavy rains devastated the state.

The administration, however, struggled with the task of supplying relief to remote parts of the state with a vast network of roads and bridges still damaged in the area. Foodgrain shortage has been reported in as many as 170 villages.

 

"All the pilgrims stranded in Badrinath dham have been evacuated. Now some locals and Nepali labourers remain there who will be evacuated by this evening if the weather permits," Chamoli District Magistrate S A Murugesan said.

Extrication of bodies at Kedarnath, the worst hit in the tragedy, also remains a concern for authorities because of the bad weather. Thirty six bodies have been cremated so far.

Officials said taking relief material to remote villages due to poor connectivity is a major problem.

Though choppers are being used for the purpose the exercise is confined to just a few areas, they said.

Gangotri Highway in Uttarkashi district is blocked at eight points while Yamunotri Highway is closed from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri making it difficult to take relief material to affected villages.