Uttarakhand cloudburst : NDRF, SDRF and IAF begin relief and rescue operation for stranded pilgrims

By Amrit Prakash
Sonprayag/Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], August 3 : After 15 people lost their lives in the cloudburst and landslides along the Kedarnath Yatra route, teams from the National Disaster Response Force, the State Disaster Response Force, and the Indian Air Force started joint rescue and relief operations for the stranded pilgrims.
NDRF and SDRF personnel rescued more than 1500 pilgrims and locals from the affected areas on Saturday.
Member of Parliament from Garhwal, Anil Baluni also visited the landslide-affected areas in Rudraprayag and interacted with officials who are a part of the rescue and relief operations.
"There has been heavy rainfall and landslides have also occurred. Our focus is on rescuing people who are stranded and providing food and medical facilities to them. It is satisfying that those who are stuck are safe and in touch with the administration. Food and medical facilities are being provided to them. As soon as the weather clears up, they will be brought out of there," he told ANI.
On the other side, the Animal Husbandry Department of Rudraprayag is sending animal feed in helicopters for the mules and horses who were struck after the landslide in the valley.
Dr Ashish Rawat, Chief Veterinary Officer of Rudraprayag, told ANI, "Due to the disaster on the Kedarnath route, there was a lot of damage mainly on the Sonprayag-Gaurikund route and due to the blockage in transportation, movement of goods from Sonprayag to Gaurikund has stopped."
"Since most of the mules and horses take shelter in Gaurikund and are still present there, there is a possibility of a food shortage for them in the future, because of which we are supplying animal feed through helicopters from here to Chirbasa Helipad," he added.
He added, "After this, horse and mule owners can go there and get animal feed for their animals. Our temporary veterinary hospital is working in Gaurikund. If any kind of veterinary treatment is required, our team is present there."
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said on Saturday that a total of 9,099 people stranded in different areas along the Kedarnath Yatra route have been rescued till now.
Vinod Kumar Suman informed that on August 3, 43 passengers were airlifted from Kedarnath. A total of 495 passengers were airlifted from Linchauli and Bhimbali. At the same time, 90 passengers reached Chaumasi-Kalimath safely on foot from Bhimbali-Linchauli. The number of passengers coming to Sonprayag from Gaurikund was 1162. 75 pilgrims were airlifted from Chidbasa (Gaurikund) and taken to safe places. At the same time, the process of safe evacuation of about 1000 passengers stranded at various places is underway. He further mentioned that 15 people have died due to heavy rains on July 31.
According to the Secretary, the rescue operation of the passengers stranded on the Kedarnath routes due to heavy rains on July 31st is going on a war footing.
A total of 7234 passengers have been rescued as of August 2. At the same time, on August 3, 1865, passengers were rescued and taken to safe places. A total of 9099 passengers have been rescued as of August 3.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is personally monitoring the rescue operation. Work is being done on a large scale to evacuate the passengers safely.