Another 64 bodies found as rains recede from Uttarakhand

Almost three months after the Uttarakhand disaster, 64 more bodies – mostly of pilgrims - were today found lying over the ridges in Kedar valley.

Clear weather over the Himalayan region over the last few days helped the search and rescue teams. The bodies were cremated with the necessary Hindu rituals.

The victims were apparently struggling to the last to escape the largely man-made flood and earthquake disaster in the eco-sensitive region.

"These persons seem to be of devotees who climbed up the ridges out of fear after the mid-June calamity to save themselves and perished due to extreme cold conditions there," Inspector General of Police R S Meena said.

All the bodies have been consigned to flames over the past two days somewhere between the Rambada and Kedarnath shrines, he said. It was a logical step, since the pilgrims would be Hindus.

"We have resumed our search for bodies trapped in the higher reaches and ridges of the valley which we could not access earlier due to bad weather. If the weather permits, the process will go on for the next few days in Junglechatti, Rambada, Gaurigaon and Bheembali areas of the valley where we expect to find bodies," the IGP said.

Apart from clear weather, the approaching date for resumption of prayers at the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath on 11 September has also led to a fresh impetus in the search for bodies, the IG said.

"However, as of now we are concentrating on areas where bodies are lying visibly on the surface and not in places where they may be lying underneath the debris," Meena, who along with Director General of Police (DGP) Satyavrat Bansal paid a visit to Kedarnath on Wednesday to review the preparations for the 11 September prayers at the shrine, said.

About 30 police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are engaged in the exercise at present.

There has been a let-up in rainfall across Uttarakhand over the past few days, with light to moderate rains at isolated places.

Uttarkashi and Munsyari were the places that recorded maximum rainfall of 35 mm and 28 mm respectively in the last 24 hours, a meteorological department official said. Similar weather is likely at most places in the next 24 hours.