Dehradun: With the weather improving, the rescue operations in Uttarakhand today picked up pace, with 17 choppers being flown to evacuate people still stranded at various locations. Mass cremation of bodies in Kedarnath, the worst-affected in flood fury, was on, as authorities were racing against time to minimise risks of epidemic outbreak.
As the sun shone bright this morning, helicopters took off to rescue an estimated 1,237 people now stuck at different places in the hill state, with the Harshil sector totally cleared of pilgrims.
About 3,000 people are still reported missing, officials said. The focus now is on Badrinath Dham area, where majority of the pilgrims are now stranded, they said. All major roads except the Joshimath-Badrinath, Rudraprayag-Gaurikund and Uttarkashi-Gangotri routes have been reopened, raising hopes of speedy evacuation, they said.
Army chief Gen Bikram Singh arrived this morning at Gauchar to review ongoing relief operations and pay tribute to the 20 soldiers killed in a chopper crash near Gaurikund on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is also scheduled to arrive in Dehradun to honour the bravehearts who laid down their lives during the rescue operations.
An official estimate said approximately 1,237 persons are now stranded at different places across the state. Till now 1,04,687 persons have been evacuated from different places by road and air.
The process of performing of last rites of those killed in Kedarnath Valley continued, with about 34 bodies being consigned to flames till now, after completion of formalities like their identification and DNA sampling. All District Magistrates have started distributing 'gratuitous relief' to the affected people, besides trying to ensure adequate availability of kerosene and LPG cylinders, official sources said.
Assessment of the damage caused to the public infrastructure is underway, and restoration work is also being taken up on a priority basis. Free transport is being arranged for all people till they reach their respective destinations, they said. Special counters have been established in Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Haldwani and Kathgodam. Special coaches are also being attached in different trains to help the pilgrims reach their destinations.
Free access is being arranged for stranded pilgrims at various places where mobile and landline connectivity is available to enable them to contact their relatives. Efforts have been geared up to ensure that the near and dear ones of those missing or affected, get updated information regarding the situation on the ground, which is being made available on the state government website (www.uk.gov.in). Officials said an estimated 3,000 people were missing, and efforts have been intensified to trace their whereabouts.
Details and photographs of those missing can be uploaded on the state government website to help authorities in tracking them.
Next: We will stay till last person is evacuated: Army Chief

We will stay till last person is evacuated: Army Chief
Gauchar: Sending a word of assurance, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh today said the armed forces will continue their operations till all the people are rescued from various locations in flood-hit Uttarakhand.
Gen Singh, who is on a day-long visit to affected areas, said he had asked his commanders to launch relief operations in "very, very difficult conditions" in a proactive manner, without waiting for any requisition from authorities.
"We are getting information that there may still be some survivors in certain areas. Like I am told, yesterday we had an input that in north of Badrinath there were some people, 40 of them. We had launched sorties yesterday but couldn't detect them. "We will be doing it again, if the weather permits. But endeavour is to locate all our citizens, wherever they are, and get them out," he told reporters here.
Gen Singh said he was visiting the area to laud the efforts of over 8,000 personnel of the Army, along with the troops of the ITBP, NDRF and IAF. "This was also an opportunity to offer my condolences to people who lost their lives in the chopper crash. My heart goes out to them," he said.
Many of the troops deployed in relief operations are from Garhwal Rifles unit, the Army Chief said, adding that Garhwal Scouts are from Uttarakhand and their families were also impacted by the flash floods. "They are son of soils and large number of them are affected too. I must tell you these boys have refused to take leave to attend to their kith and kin and rather render their duties. We all had a phenomenal synergy," Singh said.
On coordination among the forces operating in the area, Gen Singh said it was a "difficult operation but agencies worked in unison" to achieve the objectives. "All the agencies have done their bit and let's not count numbers. It was the synergy between all the agencies. The IAF has done a great job. There was a challenge as there were no roads and communication. I have come here to compliment the boys and give them 'shabashi'," he said.
Lauding the efforts made by Central Army Commander Lt Gen Anil Chait, Gen Singh said he had instructed him not to wait for any requisition before launching relief operations. "And that's what he did. From a footprint of 500, today we have 8000 troops, who were inducted into this area. I think It was a very speedy move undertaken by the Army commander, his formation commanders (and) unit commanders," he said.
On the status of people stranded in Harshil and Badrinath, Gen Singh said they were getting essentials such as food and have been provided access to communication, and would be taken out from the areas, depending on the weather conditions. After visiting Gauchar, the Army Chief said he will take an aerial view of the flood-ravaged areas, and will return to Dehradun by the afternoon, where he is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.
Army, since June 17, has deployed around 8,000 personnel along with its choppers for rescue operations.
Next: 177 Thane pilgrims return safely from Uttarakhand

177 Thane pilgrims return safely from Uttarakhand
Thane: A total of 177 pilgrims who had gone for the 'Chardham' pilgrimage to Uttarakhand have returned safely to the district till June 25, officials said. In all, 267 pilgrims had gone for the yatra this season of which 177 had already returned safely home, Thane district collector P Velrasu said in an official relase issued here.
Another 62 were on their way home, he said adding that the district administration was making every arrangement for their safe return. Besides, 28 others were in Paramartha Lok Ashram at Badrinath and arrangements were being made by the administration to bring them back safely, the collector said.
He also appealed to the citizens of Thane to get in touch with the disaster management cell of the district collectorate on nos: 25301740/ 25381886 or 1077 for any assistance.