Twenty trekkers including six Americans have been rescued from the flood affected areas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
The trekkers were rescued from a remote glacier in Dharasu. The Indian army rescue team also managed to contact around one thousand people stuck in the mountains near Kedarnath, the epic centre of the Himalayan Tsunami. Bad weather is playing havoc with all rescue efforts.
So far 557 bodies have been found since the torrential rains struck the Himalayan state on June 15 and the state Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Sunday said that the death toll could reach up to one thousand, reports AFP.
Officials said that more than 20,000 people were still stranded in remote areas in the state, battling for life.
"They have been stuck for more than five days without food or water. Temperatures have been dipping sharply in the night but they do not have any shelter," an army rescue worker told reporters.
Dozens of helicopters and thousands of soldiers have been deployed to rescue the tourists and locals isolated by the flood that swept away roads and bridges besides destroying houses, buildings and entire villages in the state.
The Indian Prime Minister described the situation in the state as worrisome and announced an aid of $180 million.
