Army troops save first batch of pilgrims from Kedarnath

In a significant breakthrough for rescue efforts in flood-hit Uttarakhand, Army troops have started evacuating pilgrims in batches from around 1,000 people who were stranded in Jungle Chatti, in mountains between Gaurikund and Rambara in Kedarnath. These people had taken refuge in the gorges and ravines when the massive deluge occurred nearly a week ago.

Medical and food supplies are being flown in to the stranded people but the rescue operations are risky because of difficult terrain.

Hungry for days, many of those sighted are ill and and in need of immediate medical care, official sources said, adding the sick and ailing among them are being evacuated on a priority basis.

Evacuation of stranded people from flood-hit areas of Uttarakhand picked up pace with security forces rescuing 17 foreign tourists from Dharasu even as bad weather hampered chopper operations at some places.

Officials said most areas that rescuers were able access the inaccessible areas now. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) said most evacuations should be completed by Sunday, which is good news with bad weather being forecast in the flood-affected region from Sunday night.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, meanwhile, arrived here to review ongoing rescue efforts in consultation with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.

An eight-member team of experts is also being sent to Kedarnath shrine today to take a count of bodies lying in the temple area, Disaster Management authorities here said.

Photos of the bodies strewn all over the area will be taken and put on the state government's official website, they said.