Dehradun, July 5, 2013: According to the Meteorological Department here, Uttarakhand may experience heavy rainfall for three days starting Friday.

On Thursday, relief material was delivered to 72 villages in the districts of Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Rudraprayag. But, relief operations were slow because of bad weather. Relief material could not be delivered to areas such as Munsyari in Pitoragarh and Badrinath in Chamoli.

While more than a lakh have been rescued, 3,078 persons are still missing, according to the State’s Missing Cell.The evacuation process will continue for around five more days as locals are still stranded in some places. On Thursday, 171 people were rescued in Pithoragarh district and 27 from Uttarkashi.

Around 5,461 vehicles have been arranged for by the State to ferry the stranded people. Since 671 roads in the State are still blocked, helicopter operations will continue for 15 more days till enough relief material is supplied to all the remote villages and hamlets. Around 10 helicopters will function to cater to these places.

Efforts to restore electricity are still on in some areas.

Doctors and paramedical staff are placed in all the affected areas. As per the reports, no outbreak of any disease has taken place anywhere in the State.

Roads have to be constructed in 1,335 out of the 4,200 affected villages and hamlets.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 5, 2013.