Telugu actor Mahesh Babu (Credit: Dookudu Official Trailer)
Mahesh BabuDookudu Official Trailer

Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu is the latest to join the legion of stars to have donated money for the flood victims in Uttarakhand.

Several members of the Indian film industry including Sonakshi Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha, T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anupam Kher, Ravi Kissen, Dia Mirza and Juhi Chwala have stepped forward to help the victims in crisis.

Tollywood actor Pawan Kalyan was reportedly the first hero from the industry to have contributed a sum of ₹20 lakh to the relief measures. Latest to join the power star is Mahesh Babu who has reportedly donated ₹50 lakh to the flood relief fund.

According to reports, the "Dookudu" actor wanted it to be a secret but the news was somehow leaked to the public. Mahesh has been receiving accolades for his generosity from all quarters. However, there has been no confirmation or denial from the Mahesh camp, according to gulte.com

More than 800 people have reportedly died in the flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand. Rescue operations are progressing in a fast pace. Around 100,000 people have been evacuated so far. This year's early monsoon in Uttarakhand is believed to be the heaviest in 80 years, the BBC reported.

Nearly 5,000 pilgrims remain stranded in Badrinath, where a fresh spell of rain on Thursday morning hampered the rescue operations. Once the Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers get clear visibility of the sky, rescue operations would resume.

Meanwhile, mass cremations of the victims who were killed in the floods are taking place in Uttarakhand, with rescue workers trying to dig out bodies that have been buried in the mud.

Aid agencies have warned that the rotting corpses contaminating the water resources and poor sanitation could result in the serious outbreak of diseases.