Mass cremation of bodies in Kedarghati held up for the past few days today started with 23 more consigned to flames, taking the number of bodies disposed of so far to 59 even as a team of experts worked on removal of debris and extricating bodies from under them at the Himalayan shrine.

23 more bodies were cremated at Gaurikund and Junglechatti last night, DIG Amit Sinha under whose supervision the exercise is being undertaken told PTI. This takes the total number of bodies disposed of in Kedarghati to 59, he said.

Thirtysix bodies had been cremated earlier, the DIG said, adding the process is slow due to bad weather and the precautions being taken not to risk the lives of personnel engaged in the exercise. It is still raining intermittently in the area, he said.

A team of seven mountaineers is engaged in a combing operation in areas adjoining the shrine in search of bodies while over 50 members of a team of experts and volunteers is stationed in Kedarnath to clean the temple premises of tonnes of debris under which more bodies may be lying, the official said. Fifty other members of the team are searching for bodies in Gaurikund and Rambara areas.