Rains hamper relief operations; special IAF aircraft commissioned

DEHRADUN: Fresh spells of rain in parts of Uttarakhand today damaged several houses in Chamoli district and hampered relief operations prompting authorities to engage an IAF transport aircraft for the mammoth exercise.

About eight houses in Urgam Valley of Chamoli district were damaged due to heavy rains forcing the occupants to vacate them and move to safer places, Chamoli's District Magistrate S A Murugesan told PTI.

People living in those houses are unharmed as they have moved to safer places apprehending damage to the structures, he said.

IAF's C-130 Hercules aircraft, commissioned after choppers engaged in the operations earlier failed to fly relief material to affected areas due to inclement weather, has also not been able to serve its purpose so far.

The plane returned from a sortie this morning without dropping relief packages in affected areas due to overcast skies and low visibility conditions, NDMA member in charge of relief operations in the hill state, V K Duggal, told PTI.

The aircraft is supposed to airdrop relief material in worst-hit Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Rudraprayag districts, including Kedarnath.

The process of cremating bodies is being carried out in Kedarnath area amid bad weather by a team of over 70 experts and trained personnel even as they are said to be facing food shortage.