NEW DELHI, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Indian authorities said Wednesday that rescue operations are continuing to evacuate at least 5,000 people who were still stranded in the mountains of the flood-hit state of Uttarakhand, despite bad weather that caused an Air Force chopper crash Tuesday evening, killing all 20 troopers on board.
"All 20 bodies have been recovered. The cockpit voice recorder has also been found. We will be able to ascertain the reason for the crash only after analyzing the cockpit voice recorder," Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, head of the Indian Air Force, told the media after reaching the state this morning to boost the morale of the force.
The Air Force chief added: "Though we lost brave personnel in the chopper crash, it should not dent our determination to carry out the rescue mission successfully. We will ensure every survivor stranded in Badrinath and Harshil sectors is evacuated."
A senior government official said that efforts have been on war- footing to evacuate some 5,000 people who are still stranded in difficult terrains of the hilly state, particularly in the towns of Badrinath and Harsil, more than 10 days after monsoon floods swept through Uttarakhand, killing thousands, mostly Hindu pilgrims, and washing away homes and roads.
"Though nearly 90,000 people have been rescued so far, some 5, 000 others are still waiting to be evacuated. Braving bad weather, rescuers are continuing air evacuation operations. We hope to rescue all by Thursday morning though heavy rains and landslides continue to hamper full-scale operations in the state," he said, on condition of anonymity.
Indian weather office says that the bad weather may continue till Friday, though the worst is over.
Uttarakhand is popular among Hindu pilgrims for its holy shrines and rivers. This year, the state has received the heaviest monsoon rainfall in the last 60 years.
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