All pilgrims stranded in Lincholi rescued
By Our Staff Reporter
Rudraprayag, 2 Aug: The state government, along with various agencies and the district administration, police and security forces, are continuously working to safely rescue the pilgrims and local people stranded at various places along the trekking route to Kedarnath, which has suffered damage due to heavy rains. Efforts are being made to rescue all the people safely at every level.
The district administration this evening claimed that all the pilgrims stranded in Lincholi after the cloudburst have been rescued. At least 18,000 food packets and 35,000 water bottles have been distributed to the pilgrims. They have been put up in safe locations by the administration.
Under the direction of the District Magistrate, Rudraprayag, the departments concerned are continuously working to safely rescue and provide food to the devotees and pilgrims stranded at various stops in the Kedar Valley.
District Supply Officer KS Kohli said that, since yesterday morning, food packets, drinking water and food are being arranged for the devotees stranded at the main stops of the Yatra. Nearly 18000 food packets and nearly 35000 water bottles had been made available at Kedarnath, Lincholi, Bhimbali, Sonprayag, Shersi, Guptkashi and Chaamasi and other places till this afternoon to the pilgrims. Apart from this, food is being provided at various places with the help of GMVN and local traders. The Badri Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) local public representatives and traders are also fully engaged in relief operations.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Vimal Gusain said that, till now, medical facilities have been provided to 286 people in Sonprayag, Gaurikund and Shersi. Till this afternoon, 582 people were rescued by airlifting them by heli services. In addition, at least 1,500 people have been rescued manually between Sonprayag and Gaurikund. Air Force Chinook and MI-17 choppers have also been pressed into rescue and relief operations, though due to low visibility, their operations are getting obstructed on a regular basis.
The Army, NDRF, SDRF are jointly running rescue operations on the Kedarnath trekking route. After heavy rains in Kedarghati, disaster-like conditions are prevailing in the area as a result of which thousands of pilgrims were stranded on Kedarnath trekking route, for whose safe evacuation operation is being conducted. This evening, in a major development, rescue of all the pilgrims stranded in Lincholi, the main stop of Kedarnath Yatra, had been completed. After this, rescue operations continue now mainly in Bhimbali and Kedarnath. A small number of pilgrims are left in Bhimbali. It is being claimed that the rescue operation will be completed soon.
At least 12 people have died so far due to the disaster in Uttarakhand in the past 48 hours in addition to huge loss of property and also animal life. According to the Disaster Management Secretary, 300 people were stranded in Bhimbali and Lincholi. In addition, between 1,000 and 1,500 people are stranded at various stops of the entire Kedarnath Dham. To rescue the passengers, an operation was carried out with the help of Air Force’s MI-17 and Chinook helicopters. Due to low visibility, MI-17 and Chinook helicopters were unable to fly, but overcoming all the obstacles, all the passengers were successfully rescued in Lincholi.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on his X account (Twitter) that he is grateful to PM Modi for starting HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operation by the Indian Air Force in the disaster-affected areas of the state. Rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing by our soldiers. So far, more than 5,000 people have been safely evacuated to safe places.
