Chopper sorties carried to rescue stranded pilgrims from Bhimbali
By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 3 Aug: After substantial damage to the pedestrian route to Kedarnath which had been in use after the 2013 disaster, the government has decided to restore the old pedestrian route also which had been in use for past several decades before it was discontinued after the 2013 natural disaster. Sources confirmed that the administration has begun preparations to restore and restart the Kedarnath Yatra using the old pedestrian route from Rambada to Kedarnath. Sources said the local villagers still use this route to travel to and from Kedarnath.
Meanwhile, the work of transporting the pilgrims stranded in Kedarnath to the road with the help of Air Force helicopters is almost over. About 8 thousand passengers have been evacuated, the pilgrims stranded on both sides of the footpath washed away between Rambada and Kedarnath have also been safely evacuated by SDRF NDRF.
In the orders issued by Secretary Public Works Department RK Sudhanshu, it has been stated that as per the instructions given by the Chief Minister for the rescue of life and property affected by heavy rains on the Kedarnath Yatra route in Rudraprayag district and restoration of the infrastructure of the Yatra route, the Secretary, Disaster Management Department, Secretary, Public Works Department and senior officials of the Energy Department nominated by the Secretary, Energy Department will immediately visit the district and ensure immediate rescue and restoration arrangements, for which the Commissioner, Garhwal Division will be the nodal officer.
On the other hand, in Tehri district also, regarding the damage caused by the disaster in Ghansyali area, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed to complete the work of rehabilitation of the affected families soon. Here, at present, these families are taking shelter in rented houses and government schools. The government has promised early rehabilitation for them.
Rescue operations are continuously underway even today to evacuate the passengers stranded in Kedarnath. A dead body has been found during the rescue in the Tharu camp near Lincholi on the Gaurikund-Kedarnath walking route in the morning and then another dead body was recovered in the afternoon today. Today, 300 people have been rescued on foot. In addition, four helicopters have been deployed for airlift though only one chopper has been able to make sorties. So far from Chirbara, one chopper has made around 8 sorties.
Rescue is going on since the cloudburst on the Kedarnath trekking route. So far 6,980 people have been rescued. On Friday, 2980 people were rescued. 599 have been brought by helicopter. While more than 1500 people are still reported to be stranded. Rescue of people stranded at various stops on the walking path damaged by heavy rains is going on. District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that the rescue team took out the body buried under big stones near Tharu Camp. Two mobiles and other material have been recovered from it. The body has been identified as Shubham Kashyap, resident of Saharanpur. The body and the recovered material were handed over to Lincholi Chowki. Thereafter, the team searched Tharu Camp, Chhoti Lincholi for the missing people. During the search, a mobile was found in Tharu Camp, which has been handed over to Lincholi Chowki.
On receiving information about 8 to 10 passengers being stranded in Tosi village, three-four km upstream from Trijuginarayan, a rescue team of SDRF under the leadership of SI Jitendra Singh has left for the spot. The second team of SDRF is carrying out rescue work under the leadership of Inspector Anirudh Bhandari in Chirbasa. Another team of SDRF under the leadership of Inspector Karn Singh is engaged in evacuating passengers between Sonprayag and Gaurikund. Rescue has started by helicopter. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually spoke to the District Magistrate (Rudraprayag) and Senior Superintendent of Police (Rudraprayag) and took a review meeting of disaster related relief and rescue operations and gave necessary guidelines.
As soon as the weather opened for heli operations, rescue of stranded devotees has been started by airlifting them from Bhimbali. At the same time, till 11 o’clock, about 250 people have been manually rescued from the area between Son Prayag and Gaurikund.
The district administration and police administration along with other security forces are working continuously to safely rescue the pilgrims and local people stranded at various stops. Today, food packets continued to be distributed by the District Administration and Food Department at Bhimbali and other places under rescue and relief operations. Apart from this, food arrangements were made by GMVN for the people stranded at Kedarnath and other places.
In a message , SP Rudraprayag Dr Vishakha Ashok Bhadane said that the pedestrian route has been damaged at many places. Rescue operations are being carried out continuously. It was told that earlier, due to lack of network, many people were unable to contact their families. After the rescue, many of these people have been able to contact their families and most of the people have reached their homes safely.
