CM thanks everyone involved in rescue mission for saving 13 lives
By Our Staff Reporter
Uttarkashi, 6 Jun: The operation conducted for the search and rescue of tourists stranded on the Silla-Kushkalyan-Sahastratal track was completed today. All the 13 remaining trekkers were evacuated safely in this rescue operation that was completed late last evening, while 9 bodies of the trekkers who lost their lives have also been recovered. Today, on the second day, starting the operation in the morning, four bodies were evacuated from the spot where they died, with the help of two Cheetah helicopters of the Air Force and brought to Natin helipad.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami kept a constant watch on the rescue operation conducted for the search and rescue of tourists stranded on the Silla-Kushkalyan-Sahastratal trek. He had instructed use of all possible options and resources in the rescue operation.
It may be recalled that 8 people who were rescued safely from the accident site were later brought to Dehradun yesterday, while five other trekkers who stayed there were sent to Dehradun today. All the nine bodies recovered from the spot are being brought from Natin helipad to District Hospital, Uttarkashi, for postmortem. After the postmortem, all these bodies are to be sent to Dehradun by Air Force MI-17 helicopter.
This morning, three rescuers of SDRF have also been brought to Natin from the spot with the help of helicopter and the process of bringing back the rescue teams who were moving forward by ground route for rescue is also underway. On the instructions of Chief Minister Dhami, as soon as the information about the accident was received, helicopters from Air Force and private companies were mobilised and pressed into service overnight and many teams of skilled and experienced were prepared and ground and air rescue operation started from many directions early next day and by afternoon all the surviving trekkers were safely evacuated.
According to a statement issued by the district administration in Uttarkashi, the CM continued seeking updates from the District Magistrate regarding the progress of the rescue operation till the completion of the operation. Expressing deep sorrow over the death of trekkers in this accident, the Chief Minister, directed the officials to act on all possible options in this rescue operation, as well as to mobilise the best resources and expert rescuers.
Appreciating the efforts of all the people, departments and organisations involved for speedy conduct of this complex and extremely challenging operation, the Chief Minister said that as a result all the surviving persons were successfully evacuated safely yesterday.
