Govt steps up rescue operations as more rain predicted for Monday


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New Delhi, 22 Jun 2013 (PTI): The government on Saturday decided to step up rescue operations in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand as more rain is predicted for Monday.

 

The decision was conveyed by Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while briefing him about the situation in the state, sources said.

 

Seth is briefing the Prime Minister in the morning and evening everyday after his meetings with top officials of departments involved in the rescue operations.

 

The Cabinet secretary informed the Prime Minister that 66,000 people have already been evacuated by the army, air force, paramilitary forces and others involved in the rescue operations, the sources said.

 

He said that 56 helicopters, including those of Army and Air Force, are conducting 220 sorties per day, evacuating stranded people and distributing relief material.

 

The rescue efforts would be stepped up and 500 sorties would be conducted on Saturday and Sunday because more rain is predicted for Monday, the sources said.

 

Around 6,200 personnel of Army and about same number of paramilitary forces are working day and night to rescue stranded people.

 

The meeting was told that about 40,000 km area of the state, particularly Gaurikund and Govind Ghat, have been affected by the devastating floods.

 

36,000 LPG cylinders have been sent to the state. The Cabinet secretary briefed the Prime Minister after holding meeting with defence secretary, home secretary, Air chief, vice-chief of Army, DG BRO, DG ITBP and former home secretary VK Duggal, who has been appointed as the nodal officer on the flood situation.

 

Army steps up relief operations

Amid reports of deteriorating weather in Uttarakhand, Army Chief General Bikram Singh said efforts have been stepped up to evacuate people stranded in the hilly terrain as "time is limited".

 

Army has also increased its footprint to over 6,000 personnel from 500 for the operation.

 

"...Time is limited. We have window till tomorrow because I have been told that weather might turn bad again but we are rushing our people there.

 

"Yesterday we landed our paratroopers...we are trying to reach even those areas where there is nobody at the moment just to ensure that in case if anybody is stuck over there, we will be able to get them out from there," Singh said.

 

He was addressing reporters after reviewing the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal on the city outskirts.

 

Describing the flash floods and cloudbursts in Uttarakhand, wherein a large number of people have died and thousands still feared missing as "very sad and a big tragedy", the army chief said, "We have increased the army’s footprint from 500 to over 6,000 at the moment".

 

"It’s a time consuming effort...because of rains, the roads are washed away. The accessibility is restricted but that not withstanding, we are doing our best because it is very important to save precious lives and important to ensure that we address aspirations of our countrymen who are there," he said.

 

Singh said that efforts are underway to ensure that Army personnel move forward to the difficult terrain with necessary logistics like medicines, rations etc. to extricate those who are marooned due to the unprecedented calamity. "We are trying to assuage their sufferings and give them basic necessities," he added.

 

The army chief also pointed out that a comprehensive plan involving various agencies like the Air Force, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Uttarakhand government is put in place to expedite the rescue operations.

 

When asked if the army was facing difficulties apart from the inclement weather, Singh said "...You must understand that increasing the footprint from 500 to 6,200 means you got to send the logistic cover not only for 6,200 personnel but you also have to take care of the people who need to be extricated from there".

 

He said that despite challenging circumstances, the army, along with other agencies was moving forward.

 

The met department has forecast bad weather from June 24 in the Himalayan state, which is still coming to terms with the havoc wreaked by devastating mudslides and flash floods that swept away almost everything standing in its way.

 

"This is the weather forecast. We can hope for the best. If we have good weather things will be much easier...If aircraft, helicopters cannot fly you can not reach those areas and going by road or by cross country through such mountainous regions takes time," the army chief said.

 

Explaining the operations, Singh said since the terrain was arduous and very slippery special tracks have to be built.

 

"We have to build tracks and move forward. It’s taking time but we are committed....It’s our duty to safeguard the interest of our countrymen and Indian army, along with the Air Force and other agencies, is moving forward in this direction," he said.

 

To a query if more troops will be deployed in Uttarakhand, the General said, "There is no point in increasing forces to a point that they become a burden on existing logistics and infrastructure".

 

"We have reached the optimal level of 6,200. We will see where it is required and will increase (the deployment) but otherwise this is the requisite and adequate resource to be positioned straight forward," he added.

 

 

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