Army Commander walks with 500 people out of Badrinath

Lieutenant General Anil Chait, the Central Army Commander and one of the seniormost officers, himself led a group of 500 people out of Badrinath.

Bad weather made it tough for helicopters to ferry the hundreds of people who remain stranded at Badrinath, now the focal point of rescue operations in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand.

Evacuations took place by road with the Army leading the way. People, who were being looked after in relief camps, were moved from Badrinath to Joshimath.

Most of the 43-kilometre journey was covered by vehicles.

For a 13-kilometre stretch, soldiers walked with batches of pilgrims to lend confidence and reassurance.

In the 12 days since torrential rain pounded the state, the Air Force, the Army and paramilitary troops have displayed heroic and selfless courage and commitment, saving the lives of thousands. 1,00,000 people have been evacuated so far as a result of their effort.

In Kedarnath, with the weather clearing a bit and threat of epidemic looming large, mass cremation of bodies was expedited in the temple town Kedarnath, the epicenter of the devastation, today.

The Air Force has transported firewood and other material needed for the last rites. Bodies are decomposing and there is a high risk of an outbreak of diseases, say officials.

400 people have so far been evacuated from the Harsil sector but nearly 1000 more are still stranded. But air rescue operations have been halted here too because of bad weather.

An earthquake of slight intensity, measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale, hit the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand today. No loss of life or property was reported from anywhere in the district.

Of the 20 airmen and paramilitary soldiers who died in a helicopter crash on Tuesday, 19 bodies have been discovered, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police spokesman told IANS.

Close to 100,000 people have been evacuated from the state so far in a heroic and vast rescue operation led by the military.

60 helicopters are in service, ferrying people and air-dropping food and other supplies. Nearly 8,600 soldiers are on the ground.