I salute the Defence force  who have done the most daring rescue operations for the last two weeks since Utharakhand faced the fury of nature and thousands faced near death in the unprecedented floods, landslides and cloudbursts. 20 personnel from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Indian Air Force(IAF) and National Disaster response Force(NDRF) has become martyrs in the chopper crash while they were rescuing the stranded people. They are national heroes who sacrificed themselves to save others.

The military has  evacuated 1,04,095 stranded people to safety so far according to National Disaster Management Authority. 560 people have died, 463 injured and 344 missing in the floods according to NDMA. (But the media reports indicate that thousands of people have died and seriously injured. Many dead bodies are yet to be found. Thousands are missing according to media reports.) Thousands of houses have collapsed and 154 bridges completely damaged.

Rescue operations are continuing. Now it is time to start the rehabilitation programme for the people of Uttarakhand. The Government, both Central and State, as also institutions, workers and common people have to help in all ways to help in the rehabilitation programme.