JOSHIMATH, July 4, 2013: Rescue operations continued in flood-hit Badrinath on Wednesday as 255 people were evacuated from the temple town. It came despite a formal announcement a day earlier that the rescue work had concluded. 

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials said another 50 pilgrims, 400 local residents and 100 officers were still to be evacuated. 

Clear weather allowed the armed forces and private helicopters to carry out multiple sorties to airlift stranded people despite predictions of heavy rains. 

Presently, Badrinath is only accessible by air. On Tuesday evening, road connectivity to Joshimath, the nearest town, also snapped after a bridge at Lambagad collapsed. 

"A large number of people from various parts of Uttarakhand are still in Badrinath. Many want to leave because they have run out of supplies, or because tourism, their only source of income, has collapsed at least temporarily. We have assured them help," NDMA joint advisor (operations) Vinay Kajla said. 

But for most evacuees, journey home is far from over. On Wednesday, helicopters flew them out to Joshimath, nearly 300 kilometres from Dehradun. Most pilgrims will now have to undertake another journey home. 

Separately, angry locals gheraoed members of the electronic media for reporting that the rescue operations at Joshimath were completed on Tuesday after about 150 pilgrims were airlifted. 

But the local administration said it will ensure that every person wanting to leave Badrinath is given adequate assistance. 

The number of locals, who had left was put at 300 in the morning. But by evening their numbers swelled to 400. 

Teerth purohit Dinkar Babulkar said, "The people who live in Badrinath have lost their livelihoods. The government has only focused its energies on evacuating pilgrims. It is as if the local population does not exist. People here have run out of supplies and there are children who are missing school because they are marooned in Badrinath." 

Over the past few days residents have been alleging that relief material has not been distributed even though local officials had received it in large quantities. 

Helicopters have being flying in relief material over the past week, but its distribution among the local villages could only be started on Tuesday afternoon. 

"Distribution of relief material to the four villages of Mana, Bamni, Pandukeshwar and Badrinath has started. Over the next few days, the relief rations should be made available to everyone," relief and rehabilitation nodal officer V Shanmugan said. 

The residents have been complaining about the administration's failure to supply enough fuel - kerosene oil and diesel. 

They are demanding enough rations for the next few months when the supplies are expected to dry up as Badrinath yatra is unlikely to be restarted in the next few months.

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