More than 10K rescued from Kedarnath and nearby areas, workforce increased for search and rescue
Monday, 05 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With nearly 10,000 pilgrims, locals and workers having been rescued from Kedarnath and nearby areas so far, the last few hundred pilgrims are expected to be rescued soon from the area. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been monitoring the rescue operation himself and issuing necessary instructions.
Disaster Management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman informed that considerable infrastructural damage was caused by heavy rains on July 31. The government is undertaking search, rescue and relief operations at full capacity to rescue those stranded in Kedarnath and on the route to the shrine. On the CM’s instructions, 9,099 persons were safely rescued from Kedarnath and nearby areas from August 1 till Saturday evening. Dense clouds at Kedarnath and above its route caused consistent disruption in the rescue work on Sunday. The Chinook helicopter of the Indian Air Force had not been able to conduct a single flight till Sunday evening due to the bad weather. The IAF’s Mi-17 chopper could undertake three flights and rescue 60 persons from the area. The government then deployed smaller helicopters for the rescue work. About 400 persons were brought on foot from Kedarnath to Lincholi and then taken by helicopter on Sunday. Five helicopters were used to rescue a total 2,622 persons from Kedarnath, Lincholi and Bhimbali till Sunday evening. According to officials, a total of 10,374 persons have been brought back safely from Kedarnath and nearby areas so far. All persons have been rescued safely from the Gaurikund area where there are no more pilgrims left with only the locals, shopkeepers and others working in the area remaining there. Similarly, most of the pilgrims have been rescued from Bhimbali and Lincholi with about 50 staying in Lincholi. About 350 pilgrims are staying in Kedarnath in addition to the Teerth Purohits, locals, shopkeepers and others. The CM has directed that all those among the locals wanting to come down from Kedarnath should also be rescued as per the requirement. Dhami has also directed officials to ensure all necessary arrangements for food, drinking water and accommodation for those staying in Kedarnath. Similarly, food and water arrangements have also been made on the route to Kedarnath along with accommodation for those in need. Officials further said that so far a total of 12,600 food packets and 10,570 bottles of water along with 1,000 Frootis and 1,000 biscuit packets have been distributed in Sonprayag while lunch and dinner has been arranged for 1,198 and 250 persons respectively. Similarly, many thousands of food packets have been distributed at Sirsi, Munkatia, Gaurikund, Chaumasi and Kedarnath helipad by the authorities. There is enough food material in Kedarnath for more than 15 days at present. On the CM’s directions, the personnel deployed for search and rescue operations were increased by 278 persons in addition to the 882 working till Saturday. A total of 1,160 are now working in the search and rescue operations. The officials further said that a special operation is being undertaken to search for those whose family members are unable to contact them. While WhatsApp calls are now possible in Kedarnath, BSNL telecommunications facility was restored at Gaurikund on Saturday. The police are trying to contact persons whose families were unable to contact them and most of them were contacted by the police on Saturday. The police and Rudraprayag district administration have issued helpline numbers for those unable to contact their family members. They can call 01364- 233727, 297878 and 297879 along with mobile phone numbers 7579257572, 8958757335 and 7579104738
