The Indian state of Uttarakhand is still dealing with relief operations on the 17th day of the calamity. The administration of the state is facing a major challenge regarding the extricating of dead bodies from the debris, as well as their disposal in Kedarnath. No cremation has taken place over the past two days.
So far, the number of bodies cremated has gone up to 36. S A Murugeshan, Chamoli district magistrate, said, “All the pilgrims stranded in Badrinath dham have been evacuated. Now some locals and Nepali labourers remain there who will be evacuated by this evening if the weather permits.” The supply of relief to the affected villages continues to pose a challenge for the local administration, as a large network of roads and bridges are still damaged in the area.
The bridge over the Alaknanda river at Lambagar is damaged severely and it will take at least 2 to 3 months to be repaired. The relief material is not able to reach remote areas due to poor connectivity. Helicopters are being used for this purpose, but they are being used for just a few areas.
There is a foodgrain shortage in at least 170 villages in Kedarghati area in Rudraprayag district and the relief material has been dispatched to the Chandrapuri, Kalimath and Sauri areas in the district.
