The death toll due to severe flood and landslides in Uttarakhand kept rolling with 11 more deaths from the State reported on Thursday while more than 650 persons are still missing. The 11 deaths are from a single family of Satna which was on pilgrimage at the flood affected Kedarnath shrine.
The sole survivor of the family Chanchal Agrawal called his family members in Satna on Thursday informing that 11 family members perished in the calamity. This includes six children. Chanchal could reach Guptakashi by helicopter on Wednesday.
Chanchal is resident of Nagod in Satna district. He informed that all other family members were swept away in the massive flood and landslide in front of his eyes. “There was massive wave which struck us and within seconds everything was lost. The flood was accompanied with large boulders which destroyed anything that was in the way,” he said adding that the presence of administration in calamity affected areas is negligible. The control room established at Bhopal Collectorate has recorded more than 650 persons reportedly missing or untraceable so far.
These persons are from different parts of the State. The missing includes at least 45 persons from the State capital.
The State Government has already dispatched a relief team including doctors and senior officers led by Culture Minister laxmikant Sharma to help persons from the State who are trapped in the flood-hit region. The team reached Haridwar through a special plane. Relief team is camping at Shantikunj Gayatri Shaktipeeth in Haridwar.
The team is making provisions for providing relief to the affected persons and also making arrangements for their safe return back home.