Uttarkashi:
There seems to be no end to the misery in flood ravaged Uttarakhand. Three days of incessant rain in parts of the state have further hampered efforts to air drop supplies in areas where roads have been washed away in the recent floods.
Relief operations remain badly affected in all districts with no chopper operations carried out so far since yesterday and the network of major roads and highways still damaged affecting transportation of food, medicines and other relief material.
In some areas there is no option but to make dangerous river crossing to get food to hungry families.
Indian Air Force's C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, commissioned after choppers engaged in the operations earlier failed to fly relief material to affected areas, has also not been helpful in the inclement weather.
The Met office has warned of heavy to very heavy rain in Uttarakhand.
The state government has admitted that getting ration to many cut off villages is proving to be tougher than admitted. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna yesterday said the number of people missing in the tragedy has risen to over 4700 out of which 750 are from Uttarakhand.
Those missing will be presumed dead if they don't surface by July 15, Mr Bahuguna said, adding the process of paying compensation to the next of the kin will begin after that date.