1,400 people stranded on rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath evacuated to safety

In Uttarakhand, more than 1,400 people stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath were evacuated to safety yesterday after air rescue operations gained momentum with the weather clearing in the Kedar Valley. Indian Air Force’s Chinook and MI17 helicopters aided in the evacuation of pilgrims that was earlier being done largely by small helicopters. While 136 pilgrims were rescued by IAF and state helicopters, 509 were brought to Lincholi on foot from Kedarnath and sent in helicopters to Chardham and Shersi helipads. 

Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said, apart from them, 584 people were rescued from Gaurikund via Sonprayag and 172 others via Chaumasi. He said, most of the pilgrims have been brought to safety from Lincholi, Bhimbali and Gaurikund. More than 11,775 people have been shifted to safe places since the start of the rescue



operations last Thursday. Only priests, shopkeepers, and horse and palanquin operators are now left in Kedarnath, apart from around 50 pilgrims who opted to stay there. 

Adequate arrangements for food, water and accommodation have been made for those moved to Sonprayag, Shersi, Chaumasi, Chardham helipad and Kedarnath helipad. Heavy rainfall and a cloudburst on July 31 washed away the Kedarnath trek route at many places, including Lincholi, Bhimbali, Ghorapadav and Rambada, stranding pilgrims to the Himalayan shrine. The route was also damaged at other places due to landslides. The Army has started the construction of a footbridge on the Sonprayag-Gaurikund road on the Kedarnath National Highway. It has also installed a trolley in Sonprayag for the movement of the differently abled, sick and the elderly.