Dehradun:
All 20 people aboard the Mi-17 helicopter that crashed yesterday afternoon are dead, Air Chief NAK Browne said today but the armed forces are continuing rescue operations in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand without a pause. Operations are focussed on Badrinath and Harsil, where nearly 5,000 people are still stranded, most of them in Badrinath.
Here are the latest developments in the story:
The Indian Air Force has begun its sorties from Gauchar, which is the hub of relief and rescue operations, on schedule this morning. Choppers have taken off for Badrinath and Joshimath. Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne is in Uttarakhand today to boost the morale of his men who are engaged in their largest-ever rescue mission. (Watch: Our rotors will not stop turning, Air Force chief says in Dehradun)
At Badrinath, an estimated 4000 people are stranded with the road link still cut off by landslides. Nearly 1000 people are still stuck in Harsil. Pilgrims will be air lifted and brought down on foot. They are safe and equipped with food and water.
It is bright and sunny in Rudraprayag, near Badrinath, but it is raining heavily in Pauri district. Fresh landslides have been reported in Pauri and a few houses and vehicles have been damaged. A road approaching the Paithani and Mulund areas has been washed away.
The Air Chief said today that all the stranded people have been evacuated from Kedarnath, the epicentre of the devastation. The priority is to cremate those who have died as officials are worried about the decomposing bodies causing an outbreak of diseases. Yesterday, the Air Force's big helicopter - the Mi-17 - dropped off firewood and other material needed for a mass cremation.
Later on Tuesday afternoon, an Mi-17 on its third sortie of the day and returning from Kedarnath crashed near Gaurikund. All five Air Force personnel on board have died. The helicopter was also carrying paramilitary personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and those of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). All those aboard are feared dead. 17 bodies have been recovered so far. (Read) "Paracommandos moved into the area, in Gaurikund, on foot and are searching for the bodies," said Inder Negi, Inspector General, ITBP.
According to reports, the sturdy Russian-built Mi-17 V5 chopper - 80 of which were inducted only last year into the IAF - was completely charred. It belonged to the 157 Helicopter base in Barrackpore, West Bengal. Five of those killed were from the Air Force; the others belonged to the National Disaster Response Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
In a condolence message the Air Force said: "You all have done us proud, for you gave your life in service of your countrymen without discretion of colour, cast, creed and religion - more importantly, in their hour of need. You are now a guiding beacon in our deeds. Your selfless sacrifice in Operation Rahat is monumental and just remembering it would be more than any pilgrimage to us." (You are our guiding beacon: Air Force tribute to officers who died)
Uttarakhand has taken the worst beating in the flash floods and landslide which have killed at least 1,000 since June 15.
The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the government to scale up the relief and rescue operations. The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation or PIL on the national disaster. (Read)
The monsoon struck the hilly state with torrential rain 12 days ago. Nearly 90,000 people have so far been rescued in a heroic and vast rescue operation led by the military.
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