Even as the authorities grapple with the havoc wreaked by the torrential rains in Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Department has warned that more rains are in the offing. The IMD has predicted that the overall rains during the current monsoon season would be normal at 98 per cent for the country and that it would be well distributed across the nation. The South-West monsoon has covered the entire country at least a fortnight ahead of schedule.

Army men rescuing pilgrims at flood-hit Hemkund in Uttarakhand. Photo: PTI

Army men during the "Operation Ganga Prahar" in a flood-hit area in Uttarakhand. Photo: PTI

An aerial view of stranded vehicles at a flood-hit area in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Photo: PTI

Vehicles wait on the road to Badrinath due to landslide and flood following heavy rains in Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Photo: PTI

A view of the washed off buildings near Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand following incessant rains and floods. Photo: PTI

Photo: R_V_Moorthy

Water level in the Yamuna river crossing the danger-mark at the Old Yamuna Bridge in New Delhi on June 18, 2013. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Stranded villagers being shifted to safer places from the flooded Lapra and Odhri villages in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, on June 17, 2013. Photo: PTI

A view of the overflowing Mandakini River in Kedarnath Valley in Rudraprayag district on June 17, 2013. Photo: PTI

Houses damaged by the overflowing Mandakini river in Kedarnath Valley in Rudraprayag district on June 17, 2013. Photo: PTI

The river waters of the Mandakini flowing into houses in Kedarnath Valley in Rudraprayag district on June 17, 2013, following incessant rains. Photo: PTI

The swollen Bhagirathi river after cloud bursts and rains in Uttarkashi district on June 17, 2013. Photo: PTI

Vehicles drifted away by the flood waters after cloud bursts and rains in Uttarkashi district on June 17, 2013. Photo: PTI

The Alakhnanda river in spate following heavy rains in Rudraprayag on June 17, 2013. Photo: PTI

A view of the collapsed bridge over the flooded Alakhnanda river following incessant rains in Rudraprayag. Photo: PTI

Stranded Sikh devotees being shifted to a safe place from Hemkund Sahib in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, by Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel on June 17, 2013, following landslips caused by incessant rain. Photo: PTI

A local train chugging along a flooded railway track after heavy rains in Mumbai on June 16, 2013. Photo: PTI

Photo: S_ HARPAL SINGH

Heavy rains resulted in water logging in agriculture fields at many places in Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh, on June 14, 2013. Photo: S. Harpal Singh

A house caves in at Prem Nagar area due to heavy rains in Uttarkashi on June 16, 2013. Thousands of Char Dham pilgrims were stranded on Gangotri and Yamunotri routes, as incessant overnight showers across Uttarakhand caused landslips in Uttarkashi district and swelled rivers. Photo: PTI

A temple submerged in flooded Ganga due to heavy rains in Uttarkashi on June 16, 2013. Photo: PTI

Photo: SHASHI ASHIWAL

People enjoying the monsoon rains in Mumbai on June 14, 2013. Photo: Shashi Ashiwal

Published on June 18, 2013