DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday sent over 10,000 food packets and a medical team on two helicopters to flood-hit areas of Uttarkashi to speed up relief and rescue operations.
Principal secretary (disaster management) Om Prakash told reporters here that the helicopter carrying the medical team could not reach Uttarkashi due to bad weather conditions. The team was expected to attend to about 20,000 residents trapped in villages that are cut off from motorable roads and over 5000 pilgrims and travellers stranded at Gangori, Dodital and Sangam Chatti areas since July 4, he said.
Prakash said 28 people have so far died due to flash floods and massive landslides triggered by three major cloudburst and other rain-related incidents in different parts of Uttarkashi districts on July 4.
Residents trapped in villages in Sangam Chatti area said they are cut off from Uttarkashi and other nearby market areas in district for the past three days and don’t have anything to eat. “We are trapped and unable to go to anywhere to purchase anything,” said Mahesh Singh Rawat of Gangori village.
Teams of ITBP and National Disaster Relief Force would airdrop food packets to victims on Wednesday.
Src: TOI