Death toll mounted to 172, while more than 30,000 persons were rescued in an accelerated rescue operation on Thursday.
The official figures claimed that more than 60,000 police personnel were still stranded at different locations in disaster-affected three districts, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi.
Thirteen foreign tourists, including six from Harshil in Uttarkashi and seven from Milam and Bufu in Pithoragarh, are among the rescued persons. Moreover, with the efforts of PAC personnel led by Devendra Pincha, debris was removed from Tehri-Chirbitiya-Guptkashi route and around 800 light vehicles were able to leave the spot for their destinations.
More than 1,000 passengers are still stranded at Harshil. Efforts are on to air shift them with the help of 22 choppers. On Thursday, the police disaster relief control room updated list of rescued persons on its uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in at some locations, communication service has been restored.
Affected kin are being informed through email and SMS. The choppers rescued more than 516 persons from different locations to Joshimath. Similarly, 141 persons were brought to Jauligrant airport from Phata and Guptkashi. Twenty persons were brought to Jauligrant from Phata. The rescue operation was underway on a war footing.
Twelve satellite phones, received from ISSRO, were delivered to the police rescue teams working in disaster affected areas. Seven helicopters dropped food packets in the disaster-affected areas for stranded people.