Dehradun: An overcast sky and low visibility at places on Wednesday did not come in the way of air rescue operations in rain-hit Uttarakhand, even though a thin veil of early morning fog briefly delayed flight of choppers from Sahasradhara helipad and Jollygrant airport.
A Pawan Hans pilot engaged in relief and rescue operations in Gauchar said the weather is okay in Uttarkashi with no major hindrance to air rescue operations.
As cremation of decaying bodies recovered from Kedarnath could not be done Tuesday due to bad weather, police tried to ensure that the process began today in view of threat of outbreak of an epidemic looming large, officials said.
Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne arrived here on Wednesday morning on a morale boosting mission a day after 20 IAF, ITBP and NDRF personnel were killed in a chopper crash near Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district.
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the ill-fated Mi-17 helicopter were on Wednesday recovered near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand a day after it crashed during rescue mission, even as IAF chief NAK Browne ruled out possibility of any of the 20 men on board surviving.
“Fortunately, we have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. And, I think, in a few days’ time, we will get to know absolutely as to what exactly happened,” he told reporters after interacting with IAF officers and men here.
He said that at this juncture, it would be premature for him to comment as to the reason behind the crash — if it was the weather or a technical problem.
Browne said he had been told there were no survivors among the 20 people on board — five from IAF, six from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and nine from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Asked if the envelope of safety had been pushed, he said, “I won’t say that anything was pushed… In the mountains, especially during the monsoon, weather is always an issue. But, at this point of time, we are not quite sure if it was the weather or a technical problem (that led to the crash).”
He said during rescue missions the risk factor is always considered very closely and it is reviewed almost on a daily basis.
Talking to reporters here before flying to Gauchar to take stock of the situation, Browne said he was here to pep up the morale of personnel engaged in rescue operations following Tuesday’s unfortunate incident.
“Though we lost brave personnel of the IAF, ITBP and NDRF in the chopper crash, it should not dent our determination to carry out the rescue mission successfully. We will ensure that every survivor stranded in Badrinath and Harshil sectors is evacuated,” Browne said.
Condoling the death of soldiers on a rescue mission in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said it was a loss for the nation and declared one days’ state mourning on Wednesday.
He has already announced a compensastion of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased personnel.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the families of two Indian Air Force personnel from this state killed in the IAF chopper crash in Uttarakhand. The government would give Rs 20 lakh assistance to the kins of Sudhakar and Akhilesh Pratap while taking responsibility of free education to their wards, Akhilesh Yadav told reporters here.
The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to give Uttrakahand Rs 350.79 crore, which it had to give to the state under the pension head in instalments, said an official release of the state government.
Bahuguna, who is scheduled to tour the affected areas in Pithoragarh district, said he will go ahead with his programme if the weather improves.
Rescuers have evacuated 2,403 stranded pilgrims even as nearly 8,000 persons waited to be evacuated–most of them at Harsil and Badrinath, officials said, as the death toll rose to 822 with 142 bodies being found, including 127 in Kedarnath area, the epicentre of destruction. (PTI)