Only 500 people left to be evacuated in Uttarakhand: Defence Ministry

NEW DELHI: Winding up their rescue and relief operations in Uttarakhand, the armed forces today said only around 500 people are left to be evacuated from Badrinath.

The Army continues to deploy its around 8,000 personnel along with choppers while the IAF has reduced its presence in the rain-ravaged state as it deployed on 18 choppers there today.

"500 persons are left to be evacuated from Badrinath," a Defence Ministry release said.

The IAF flew 44 sorties in which it evacuated 401 persons from Badrinath.

Since June 17, after heavy rains wreaked havoc in the hill state, the IAF has flown 2,192 sorties and evacuated 18,825 personnel.

In the last over two weeks of operations, the Army has deployed its men and choppers and rescued 37,895 people from the flood-hit areas, it said.

More than 60,000 people were affected by flash floods and over 12,000 personnel from the Army, IAF and Border Roads Organisation were deployed by Defence Ministry.