PUNE, July 4, 2013: Officially, the rescue operations in Uttarakhand, 17 days after the flash floods ruined many places, have ended and the grim task of cremating many hundreds of victims is also over.

For the relatives of 25 people from Pune missing in Kedarnath, who have clung to hope so far, the search is now turning desperate. Many had heard from their kin hours before the disaster struck on June 16. They are now following clues and taking help from the local guides to trace their dear ones.

The search party in Kedarnath has found three locations __ Gaurikund to Pahiya Tal, Gaurikund to Vasuki Tal and Kedarnath to Vasuki Tal-- that may have remained untouched in the army's search operations. These locations are most likely to have some indications about the missing, they said.

Sources from the search party said that some locals in the area had spotted people heading towards these routes just after the deluge. A member of the search party told TOI that they have referred to the map of the area and had several meetings with the gram sabha members of villages around the affected area.

"These members have good contacts with sheep breeders who stay in and around the locations we want the army to search. These three locations have not been combed by the army as yet though officials say they have checked the areas," he said.

Other members of the search group said they have been trying to convince army personnel to launch a search operation in the untapped locations for the past two days, but the response has not been encouraging. They have suggested that the armymen tap local people to get to locations that have remained unexplored and that may have the rest of the missing.

"We are also trying to get in touch with trekkers who know these routes well and may be of some help. We have confirmed sightings of 22 pilgrims from Pune in Rambada at 11.30 am on June 16. The disaster struck later that evening and this group of 22 had seven hours to escape. Some locals also said that they may have seen the same group after disaster struck. However, we have no confirmation about this," said the member.

Another member of the search band said Gaurigaon village lies above Gaurikund and a route from this village meets Pahiya Tal and Vasuki Tal in Kedarnath. "Upon reaching Gochar, members of the search party were told by the guides that there is a possibility of pilgrims taking these routes. Around 50 military personnel can be deployed in each of these three locations to search for our people," he said.

Members added that these routes have horse sheds and women from villages here often bring fodder to Kedarnath. Hence, it is possible for the missing to have used these routes as refuge.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 4, 2013.