Total number of deaths in disasters from 31 July onwards is 17
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 3 Aug: Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman informed the media this evening that the rescue operation of the passengers stranded in Kedarnath and Kedarnath route due to heavy rains on 31st July is underway on a war footing. The SDRF, NDRF teams are rescuing the passengers stranded on the route and taking them to safe places. A total of 7,234 pilgrims have been rescued till yesterday but today additionally, 1,865 pilgrims were rescued, taking the total number of rescued pilgrims in Kedar Valley to 9,009 so far.
Suman added that rescue operation is still underway to rescue about 1000 more pilgrims. He added that the Chief Minister is personally monitoring the rescue operation. Work is being done on a large scale to evacuate the passengers safely. The Secretary Disaster Management informed that till yesterday, 15 pilgrims were airlifted from Kedarnath while, 1,354 pilgrims were airlifted from Lincholi and Bhimbali and taken to safe places. 365 passengers reached Chaumasi-Kalimath on foot from Bhimbali-Linchauli and 5,500 pilgrims managed to reach Sonprayag on foot from Gaurikund.
Suman added that today, 43 passengers were airlifted from Kedarnath, while, 495 passengers were airlifted from Lincholi and Bhimbali. At the same time, 90 passengers reached Chaumasi-Kalimath safely on foot from Bhimbali-Lincholi. The number of passengers coming to Sonprayag from Gaurikund was 1162. 75 pilgrims were airlifted from Chirbasa (Gaurikund) and taken to safe places. At the same time, the process of safe evacuation of about 1,000 passengers stranded at various places is still underway.
He confirmed that at least 15 people have died due to heavy rains on 31 July. On 1 August, two persons died after slipping while bathing in Sahastradhara in Dehradun. Thus, a total of 17 passengers have died. 10 people were injured in accidents at different places and 1 person is still missing. 3 people died in Tehri, 4 in Haridwar, 6 in Dehradun, 1 in Chamoli, 3 in Rudraprayag districts.
Suman said that NDRF, SDRF as well as Air Force’s Chinook and MI-17 helicopters are deployed in relief and rescue work. He said that 83 NDRF personnel, 168 personnel of SDRF, DDRF and PRD, 126 of Police Department, 35 Fire Personnel are deployed at different places. 35 Aapada Mitras as well as 150 labourers working through Public Works Department have been deployed to open the blocked roads. 32 paramedical employees are providing their services under the leadership of 12 doctors of the Health Department. 57 employees of the Revenue Department, 68 of GMVN, 27 employees of the Food Department are engaged in making the related arrangements right. Thus, a total of 882 jawans/personnel are engaged in relief and rescue operations on a war footing.
