New Delhi: With the scale of the tragedy in Uttarakhand slowly unfolding, more than 2,500 additional troops and elite paratroopers were rushed in on Thursday even as rescue teams were hit by shortages of food and fuel that threatened to hamper operations.
Rescue agencies have received reports of starvation as pilgrims have been isolated without access to food or water. The matter of shortages of food, as well as acute scarcity of aviation fuel for helicopters figured prominently at a review meeting conducted by the Cabinet Secretary on Thursday. Sources said the Cabinet Secretariat received reports that the Army and Border Road Organisation were running out of food even as an estimated 50,000 pilgrims are believed to be stranded. The cabinet secretary was informed about starvation reports from Junglechatti near Kedarnath, where 80 pilgrims were said to be stranded without food or water. A National Disaster Response Force team, which had gone to rescue the group, is also stranded with even their stock running out. Authorities plan to airdrop supplies at this location.
21/06/13 Manu Pubby, Vijaita Singh/Indian Express
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Rescue agencies have received reports of starvation as pilgrims have been isolated without access to food or water. The matter of shortages of food, as well as acute scarcity of aviation fuel for helicopters figured prominently at a review meeting conducted by the Cabinet Secretary on Thursday. Sources said the Cabinet Secretariat received reports that the Army and Border Road Organisation were running out of food even as an estimated 50,000 pilgrims are believed to be stranded. The cabinet secretary was informed about starvation reports from Junglechatti near Kedarnath, where 80 pilgrims were said to be stranded without food or water. A National Disaster Response Force team, which had gone to rescue the group, is also stranded with even their stock running out. Authorities plan to airdrop supplies at this location.
21/06/13 Manu Pubby, Vijaita Singh/Indian Express
