The 10,000 pilgrims rescued on Saturday brought the total number of people evacuated from rain-ravaged Uttarakhand to 70,000. With heavy rain expected to pummel Uttarakhand starting Monday, the next 24 hours are going to be crucial for rescue teams trying to save around 40,000 pilgrims scattered across Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts.
Around 5,000 people evacuated from Badrinath were shifted to a makeshift camp while another 8,000 are awaiting rescue. More than 850 of the 1,000 people stuck at Jungle Chatti, between Gaurikund and Rambara, have also been evacuated. Many of those rescued had been without food and water for the last six days and required immediate medical attention.
The death toll has crossed 1,000, according to the Uttarakhand government, though information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari put the figure at 557. The minister stated at a press meet that only 70-80 people were left in Kedarnath and that they were expected to be evacuated on Sunday.
Scores of rescued pilgrims were on the brink of starvation, having gone without food and water for nearly a week. Many of the rescued had tragic stories to tell about how they saw their family members die of hunger.
Others are still searching for the bodies of their kin in the forests around Gauri Kund, Bhairavchatti, Jungle Chatti and Garud Chatti.