Bad weather halts rescue operations in Uttarakhand

A fresh spell of rain and landslips on Monday in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand's Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts have halted rescue operations to evacuate 10,000 survivors. Helicopters with rescue crews could not take off from Sahasradhara helipad to evacuate pilgrims stranded in Badrinath. Retired Wing Commander R S Brar, responsible for overseeing air rescue operations, told Press Trust of India, "Around 5000 people are yet to be evacuated from Badrinath. Not a single chopper has been able to take off from Sahasradhara helipad here to rescue stranded pilgrims at the shrine." In Guptkashi and Gauchar copters were not able to take off because of a thick veil of mist enveloping the area and intermittent rains. In Delhi, Federal Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the death toll in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand may cross the reported 1,000 mark after the debris is cleared. Talking about coordination efforts, National Disaster Management Authority member V K Duggal said in Delhi that "there was some operational issues and I have addressed the same with the officers concerned".