Uttarakhand floods: Helicopter operations suspended due to bad weather Dehradun, June 23 (ANI): Even as thousands of people still remain stranded in various parts of flood ravaged Uttarakhand, rescue operations were marred on Sunday due to bad weather. Helicopter operations were suspended over Kedarnath, Badrinath, Dehradun and Rishikesh due to intermittent rains. There were also threats of fresh landslide in Sonprayag. The Metrological department has predicted heavy rains from June 25 onwards.
1000 have died in the flash floods: Vijay Bahuguna
Uttarakhand, june 23 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has confirmed that At least 1000 have died in the flash floods that recently hit the picturesque hill station. Flash floods and landslides triggered by early monsoon rains have claimed hundreds of lives and left tens of thousands missing, while apprehensions have termed the death toll to rise significantly. Thousands of personnel from the defence forces have been involved in rescue operations, with helicopters of Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Army picking up scores of stranded survivors.
70,000 rescued so far; no lack of co-ordination: Tewari on Uttarakhand floods
New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): Contrary to reports indicating lack of co-ordination in rescue ops, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Manish Tewari has asserted that coordinated efforts were being made for rescue operations and 70,000 people had been rescued from flood affected areas. Tewari said that given the situation on the ground the best possible efforts were being made to ensure that all those stranded are rescued as soon as possible.
ITBP battles harsh weather to evacuate people from Uttarakhand
New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): ITBP Chief Ajay Chadha on Sunday said that members of his team were fighting harsh weather conditions to evacuate stranded people in flood hit Uttarakhand. Chadha also said that 600 to 700 people are still stranded in Kedarnath, the worst hit region in the floods and the ITBP teams were waiting for weather conditions to improve in order to air lift the stranded people to safety. He further said that every person who is been evacuated has been given a cash of 2000 as stated by the Uttakhand government.
US Secretary of State John Kerry to arrive in India today
New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): US Secretary of State John Kerry will arrive on Sunday on a three-day state visit to India. He will attend the fourth Indo-US Strategic Dialogue tomorrow. Kerry, who is undertaking his first visit to India after assuming office of Secretary of State, will co-chair the strategic dialogue with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid tomorrow.
