All out efforts for rescue of those trapped in Uttarakhand: Shinde

DEHRADUN: All out efforts will be made to find out those who are still trapped in the debris and those who continue to be missing after the Uttarakhand rains and floods disaster, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said today.

Addressing a press conference after taking stock of the rescue and relief works here, Shinde said it was still not known how many people continued to be trapped under the debris following the rains fury.

"We have to find out how many are still trapped under the debris," he said, accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, NDMA Vice Chairman M Sashidhar Reddy and other senior officials.

The Home Minister said many people continue to be stranded in Badrinath and some other locations and more helicopters will be deployed to rescue all those who have not been evacuated yet.

"The Air Force will deploy more MI-17 helicopters to evacuate all people in war footing. The helicopters fleet will be stationed in Uttarakhand for 15 more days," he said.

Shinde said priority will be given to rescue stranded women and those who are ill, aged, or disabled and subsequently others will be evacuated.

He assured all help for the relief and rehabilitation of the locals whose houses and livelihoods were washed away in the deluge.