Rescue operations on the Kedarnath yatra route entered their fifth day with significant progress made in airlifting stranded individuals to safety. More than 130 people were airlifted on Monday, as improved weather conditions facilitated the evacuation process. This operation saw the deployment of multiple rescue teams and helicopters, including the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Chinook and MI17 helicopters, which were crucial in accelerating the evacuation.
By 9 am on Monday, 133 people had been evacuated from Kedarnath Dham. The rescue effort was a coordinated operation involving the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other rescue teams, who managed to transport 100 people from Kedarnath Dham to Lincholi. From Lincholi, these individuals were then airlifted to the Shersi helipad.
According to disaster management and rehabilitation secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, as of Sunday, a total of 10,374 people had been rescued from various locations along the Yatra route, including Kedarnath, Lincholi, Bhimbali, and Gaurikund. By that time, only 350 pilgrims remained in Kedarnath and 50 in Lincholi.Â
The rescue operations faced challenges over the weekend due to dense cloud cover in Kedarnath and surrounding areas, which hampered air operations. The IAF's Chinook helicopter was unable to complete any sorties on Sunday, resulting in only 60 people being evacuated via three sorties by the MI17 helicopter. Despite these difficulties, the evacuation efforts continued relentlessly.
Apart from some remaining pilgrims, the areas of Kedarnath and Gaurikund still had a few priests, shopkeepers, and operators of horses and palanquins. Provisions were made for their evacuation if they wished to leave. Adequate arrangements for food, water, and accommodation have been established for evacuees at Sonprayag, Shersi, Chaumasi, Chardham helipad, and Kedarnath helipad.
The evacuation and rescue operations were necessitated by heavy rainfall and a cloudburst on July 31, which caused extensive damage to the Kedarnath trek route. The path was washed away in many places, including Lincholi, Bhimbali, Ghorapadav, and Rambada, and landslides damaged other sections. Consequently, many devotees were stranded.
In addition to airlifting operations, the Army has begun constructing a footbridge on the Sonprayag-Gaurikund road on the Kedarnath national highway, which was washed away. They have also installed a trolley for the movement of differently-abled, sick, and elderly individuals in Sonprayag and have deployed two sniffer dogs to aid in search and rescue efforts. The NDRF teams are conducting continuous searches in the forests and around the Mandakini River, as it is believed that some people might have moved towards the forests due to fear of the rain.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been personally monitoring the search and rescue operations, expressing his appreciation for the participation and cooperation of local residents. In a social media post, he highlighted the local culture of "Atithi Devo Bhava" (Guest is God) and commended the tireless efforts of the locals, which he credited with preventing major damage from the heavy rain. The administration's full cooperation with local people has been pivotal in the ongoing rescue operations in the Kedarnath area.
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