Amit Shah conducts aerial survey in flood-stricken Uttarakhand

Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Uttarakhand late on Wednesday evening to conduct an aerial survey of the state which has been beset by severe flooding and damage from rains. As of Wednesday night, the death toll has increased to 52 with five reported missing.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and Uttarakhand BJP president Madan Kaushik received Mr Shah at the Jollygrant Airport on his arrival around midnight on Wednesday. Shah had assured the chief minister that any and all aid would be available to the state from the Central government.

Bad weather has hampered the efforts of the disaster relief efforts as apart from three Indian Air Force helicopters and police force, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force were pressed into service for search and rescue operations. 28 deaths have been reported from the Nainital district alone, with 11 from Champawat.

The Uttarakhand government is working to restore road access and repair bridges in rural areas of the state.