Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said Wednesday that people stranded in Harsil and Badrinath would be rescued in the next two days and all steps are being taken to prevent epidemics in flood-affected regions.
The chief minister told reporters that people stranded in Harsil would be rescued by Thursday and those in Badrinath would be evacuated in "one or two days" if the weather remained conducive for flights.
Bahuguna said state and central teams are testing water and studying other factors to see that there is no outbreak of an epidemic.
"There is a fear that an epidemic may break out. Secretary health (of the state) and central teams are surveying the areas and are carrying medicines. Water testing is also being done," Bahuguna said.
Bahuguna told media persons that the state government has constituted a seven-member advisory committee on disaster management that would begin work soon.
The chief minister said a meeting of the state disaster management board was held Tuesday and it decided to form the committee.
He said district magistrates have started making an estimate of the loss to infrastructure due to flash-floods and landslides and the government would in a week get a picture of the total loss suffered by the state.
The chief minister said that compensation has been hiked for losses suffered by people, such as damage to houses and loss of livestock.
