ITBP steps up rescue operations

In this Wednesday June 19, 2013 photo, an Indian army soldier helps flood affected elderly pilgrims after being evacuated from upper reaches of mountains, in Chamoli, in Indian northern state of Uttrakhand. Days after floods killed more than 100 people rescuers used helicopters and climbed through mountain paths to reach nearly 4,000 people trapped by landslides in a narrow valley near a Hindu shrine in the northern Himalayas, officials said Thursday. (AP Photo)

Rescuers help escort stranded pilgrims to helicopters to evacuate at Joshimath in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. A joint army and air force operation evacuated nearly 12,000 Hindu pilgrims stranded in a mountainous area by torrential monsoon rains and landslides in northern India, but nearly 63,000 people remain cut off, a senior official said Wednesday. (AP Photo)

Indian army personnel carry an injured flood victim on a stretcher for treatment in Hemkund, in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, India, Wednesday, June 19, 2013. A joint army and air force operation has evacuated nearly 12,000 Hindu pilgrims stranded in a mountainous area by torrential monsoon rains and landslides in northern India, but nearly 63,000 people remain cut off, a senior official said Wednesday. (AP Photo)

In this Friday June 21, 2013 photo, Indian pilgrims who were stuck in the upper reaches of mountains are brought to safer place, in Joshimath, in northern Indian state of Uttrakhand. Officials say soldiers are working to evacuate tens of thousands of people still stranded in northern India where nearly 600 people have been killed in monsoon flooding and landslides. (AP Photo)

In this Friday June 21, 2013 photo, Indian pilgrims who were stuck in the upper reaches of mountains are brought to safer place, in Joshimath, in northern Indian state of Uttrakhand. Officials say soldiers are working to evacuate tens of thousands of people still stranded in northern India where nearly 600 people have been killed in monsoon flooding and landslides. (AP Photo)

In this Friday June 21, 2013 photo, Indian pilgrims who were stuck in the upper reaches of mountains are brought to safer place, in Joshimath, in northern Indian state of Uttrakhand. Officials say soldiers are working to evacuate tens of thousands of people still stranded in northern India where nearly 600 people have been killed in monsoon flooding and landslides. (AP Photo)