Live: IAF rescue teams will stay in U'khand for 15 more days, says Shinde

Dehradun: 1:07 pm: Air rescue operations in Joshimath, that were halted due to fog, have resumed.

12:27 pm: Speaking on relief for the locals in Uttarakhand, Shinde said, "The locals have also been badly affected by the floods. The Chief Secretary has been told to list all the requirements of the state."

12:21 pm: Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that Air Force choppers will stay in the state for 15 more days to finish the rescue and relief work completely.

12:20 pm: A special Rs 95 crore tourism package has been announced for Uttarakhand, Shinde said. He also said that there is still no clarity on how many bodies are buried below the debris. "There are people in Badrinath. Priority has been given to take out people who are unwell, handicapped, elderly people, women, children and then get the youth and others. The estimate is that in 2 days the operations should be complete," Shinde added.

12:17 pm: Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, "There is excellent co-ordination in the teams working in Uttarakhand. There were some problems in the starting few days but since June 21, the work went on in full swing."

12:12 pm: A Pawan Hans rescue chopper crash landed at Harsil, Army spokesperson Uma Maheshwari said. He said there were no injuries or casualties in the incident. The tail portion of the chopper was damaged, he said.

12:07 pm: The 20 security personnel who died in the rescue chopper crash in Uttarakhand have been given a 'guard of honour' in Dehradun. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Army Chief General Bikram SIngh were present during the guard of honour.

11:50 am: The Uttarakhand government has told the Supreme Court that:

- Rescue operations will be over by June 29

- The exact number of dead can be correctly ascertained after the rescue and recovery phase is over

- A secretary level officer has been made responsible for receiving relief material and the same is being kept at the Sports College in Dehradun

- There are 1,000 pilgrims stranded in Badrinath and are likely to be evacuated by June 29

- Instructions have been given to rescue parties that families should not be fragmented in rescue operations

- The state government has made arrangments for free transportation of affected people by buses and railways.

- The state government has requested to transport affected people free of cost and send the bill to the Uttarakhand government for reimbursment.

10:58 am: Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has reached Dehradun.

10:54 am: The Uttarakhand government has told the Supreme Court that it hopes to complete rescue operations in the state by June 29.

10:12 am: Chamoli DM SA Murugesan has said that over 2,000 people are still stranded in Badrinath. "Close to 2,000 pilgrims and some 1,000 to 1,200 locals are in Badrinath. Hopefully, we will be able to complete rescue operations," he said.

9:17 am: Army Chief General Bikram Singh said that 500 people were stranded in Harsil and 2,500 in Badrinath.

9:08 am: Complimenting the Army soldiers for the rescue operations, General Bikram Singh said, "It was a very difficult operation. What is to be appreciated is how all agencies in unison joined hands to save lives."

9:03 am: Army Chief General Bikram Singh, who has reached Gauchar, said that there were still some people stranded in some parts of Uttarakhand and the Army will get back all those stranded.

8:31 am: Army Chief General Bikram Singh reaches Dehradun to get updated with rescue operations and speak to personnel deployed in various parts of Uttarakhand.

<8:22 am> Rescue sorties halted at Joshimath as fog engulfs helipad.

The Uttarakhand government has said that 3,000 people are still missing in the state even as rescue operations are expected to wind up in some sectors on Friday. The rescue operations will continue in Badrinath, say sources. There are contradicting figures of those missing though as the NDMA says 344 people are missing and that close to 1,800 people are stranded.

The focus is now shifting to those missing and the villagers and locals affected, say sources in the National Disaster Management Authority and Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the last leg of their rescue operations in Uttarakhand, the Army on Thursday said it has completed the evacuation of all pilgrims stranded in Harsil. "532 stranded people have been evacuated today by air from Harsil, leaving just 100 to 150 locals to be evacuated. With this, all pilgrims have been evacuated from Harsil. At least 450 people were evacuated by helicopters from Badrinath on Thursday," it said.

On rescue operations in Badrinath, the force said all able-bodied and willing people were motivated by the Army to undertake journey from Badrinath to Joshimath by a combination of foot and vehicles. "While only 12 Kms is by foot, the remaining 31 Kms is undertaken by vehicles. 900 people set out on foot," the Army said.

The IAF had flown over 1,820 sorties sice June 17 till June 27, including over 60 on June 27 in which it has rescued over 15,113 people. The Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DG, AFMS) has deployed 400 people of various specialties in flood-affected areas. The DG, AFMS, has provided medical treatment to 7,000 civilians so far in the area and has also been sending medicines and other equipment for stranded people there.

In Dehradun, the 20 men from the Air Force, ITBP and NDRF bravehearts, who died in Tuesday's helicopter crash while on a rescue mission, will be given a 'guard of honour' on Friday.

Meanwhile, mass cremations were carried out in Kedarnath. Authorities took DNA samples and photographs of the bodies before performing their last rites. "Some bodies are identifiable and some are not. We want to be sure before we confirm details. The ones that are identifiable we're going ahead with legal formalities. And for the others we will have to resort to DNA testing," ITBP DG Ajay Chadha said.

The authorities are also trying to prevent the spread of diseases in certain areas in the state. The Union Health Ministry has sent a team to review the public health situation in the hill state.

Accompanied by Reddy, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is likely to visit Uttarakhand on Friday to take stock of the relief work in the hill state.

In Delhi, the Supreme Court will resume its hearing on the relief work. Earlier, the court had asked the Centre and the state government to step up rescue operations.

Helplines:

Save the Children contact details:

Website : www.savethechildren.in

Phone : 011-42294900 / 66141335

Helpline numbers:

Uttarkashi: 01374-226126, 226161

Chamoli: 01372-251437

Tehri: 01376-233433

Rudraprayag: 01732-1077

The ITBP helpline and control room numbers: 011-24362892, 9968383478

Army medical emergency helpline numbers: 18001805558, 18004190282, 8009833388

Uttarakhand Helpline numbers: 0135-2710334, 2710335, 2710233

Railway helpline numbers at Haridwar: 09760534054/09760534055;

Dehradun: 01352622131;

Rishikesh: 01352434167

Special helpline numbers:

State Disaster Management Centre: 0135-2710334, 2710335, 2718401-04. Fax: 2718400, 6555523, 6555524

Others: 09755444486, 09808151240, 09837134399, 999779124, 9451901023, 9456755206, 9634535758

For more information, please see the website where details are available: http://uk.gov.in

Email ID: [email protected]

Haridwar Control Room Numbers: 01334-233727, 01334-265876, 01334-223999, 01334-226849

Contact Person Dr Naresh Chaudhary: 9837352202

(With additional information from PTI)