Addressing a press conference after taking stock of the rescue and relief works here, Shinde said it was still not known how many people continued to be trapped under the debris following the rains fury.
"We have to find out how many are still trapped under the debris," he said, accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, NDMA Vice Chairman M Sashidhar Reddy and other senior officials.
"The Air Force will deploy more MI-17 helicopters to evacuate all people in war footing. The helicopters fleet will be stationed in Uttarakhand for 15 more days," he said.
Shinde said priority will be given to rescue stranded women and those who are ill, aged, or disabled and subsequently others will be evacuated.
He assured all help for the relief and rehabilitation of the locals whose houses and livelihoods were washed away in the deluge.