Congress general secretary Ajay Maken Monday said his party is helping in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand and all should rise above partisan politics and serve the affected people.
Addressing reporters here, Maken said thousands of people have been left homeless and their houses uprooted. "We should rise above partisan politics and serve the people," he said.
He said the temple town of Kedarnath has been fully evacuated and the remainder of pilgrims in Badrinath would also be evacuated if the weather permits.
He said Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh was in Uttarakhand and spoke to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and it was decided that the Uttarakhand Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority should be set up immediately.
"This is the authority that will deal with the tragedy," said Maken.
He said the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank would be roped in to help in the state's reconstruction.
"We're concentrating on relief and reconstruction activities in Uttarakhand," he said.