Rescue operations have gained momentum in flood ravaged Uttarakhand, as more rescued pilgrims are being airlifted from remote regions to the state's capital, Dehradun.
Hordes of rescued people have been airlifted in choppers to Dehradun on Friday as the administration has left no stone unturned to deal with the flood mayhem.
Most of the people who were brought from Harsil area were rescued from the Gangotri glacier region that also saw a considerable amount of devastation due to flash floods.
As per media reports, about 4000 stranded tourists have been rescued from the relief camps based in Harsil in the span of the last three days.
Most of the rescued persons broke down with emotions on reaching safer destinations.
"I really don't know. A lot of people are still stranded there. My husband is still left behind and our car is also left behind in Gangotri," said Sonali Vats.
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The rescued people were also not happy with the kind of arrangements that had been made at the relief camps set up for the victims.
Most of them complained that the camps were devoid of most basic sanitary facilities that were needed.
"There was no arrangement. There was a military camp and we took shelter there and they gave us food to eat. The situation there is not good. The tourists are in a troubled state. There has been no good arrangement from the government," said Manoj Pandey, a rescued man.
Reportedly, more than 60,000 people stranded in parts of northern India awaited rescuers, as floods caused by heavier-than-usual monsoon rains killed at least 150 people in worst-hit Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile, the first army helicopter with food and medicine landed near Kedarnath temple, one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Uttarakhand, which is intact but the shops and homes near the temple are badly damaged.
Thousands of people are still stuck at Kedarnath, where over 50 people are reported to have died.
Thousands of houses have been swept away in the flash floods and authorities are using helicopters to evacuate people and drop essential food supplies.
The state government authorities claim a big success in carrying out the rescue operations that saw about 4000 people being saved in the devastated temple town.
"Given the situation there, there has never been such a large evacuation in Uttarakhand's history. 22 helicopters have been busy since the last three days, to the best of their abilities and the best of their risks. About 4000 tourists have been evacuated so far. This is a huge number," said Rakesh Sharma, Uttarakhand's Principal Secretary (Civil Aviation).
Shaila Rani Rawat, a legislator representing Kedarnath, appealed for material resources and aerial support from all state governments to carry out the rescue operations successfully.
"The state government has limited resources. We don't need money right now, we need resources. I appeal to the entire country and all the state governments that we should be provided with aerial support and the army to rescue all the people. That can be of use right now. The area is very rough and there had already been a lot of destruction," she said.
The states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have witnessed torrential rains at least thrice as heavy as usual since last week when the annual monsoon broke a fortnight ahead of schedule.
Early monsoon rains have swollen the River Ganga, India's longest river and also its mega tributary, River Yamuna causing death and destruction along their banks in the Himalayan region.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a Rs.1000 crore aid package for the state after he and ruling Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi did an aerial survey of the flood-hit region.
This year's monsoon has drenched the country in record time, almost a month ahead of schedule. Heavy rains in north India have swollen the Ganges, India's longest river, and floods have swept away houses, killing over 80 people and leaving tens of thousands stranded.
For India's farmland, however, above average early rains help moisten the soil, enabling better preparation for seeds and early planting. The June to September monsoon is crucial for the 55 percent of India's farmland without irrigation.