News India Uttarakhand toll may run into several thousands, CM terms it as Himalayan tsunami

Uttarakhand toll may run into several thousands, CM terms it as Himalayan tsunami

Dehradun/Rishikesh/Joshimath, Jun 19: The terrible magnitude of nature's fury in Uttarakhand unfolded today as the death toll rose to 150 with fears that it may go up substantially as large parts remained under water while



State Home Secretary Om Prakash told reporters that at least 150 people have been killed in flashfloods, cloudbursts and landslides.



The toll may rise as the process of recovery of bodies has not yet started at many places which are marooned,” he said.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh also toured the affected areas in the three districts and held a meeting with senior government officials at the Jollygrant airport to brief them about how to deal with the situation.

The Chief Minister said that the priority as of now was to evacuate the stranded people at different places and distribute food packets and medicines among them.

Once the stranded people are evacuated to safety, the process of recovering bodies trapped in the debris of collapsed houses, mud and slush will begin,” he told reporters.

Eight more bodies have been recovered from the Kedarnath Wildlife Sancturay and 2,700 stranded pilgrims have been evacuated to safe locations by ITBP and Army Jawans in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts.

Evacuation of pilgrims from Badrinath has begun where 12,000 persons are still stranded, he said.




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