Uttarakhand: Air Force helicopters join rescue ops, over 5,000 pilgrims evacuated so far

New Delhi: Indian Air Force helicopters including Chinook and Mi-17, were deployed today to aid in the rescue efforts in Uttarakhand, focusing on evacuating pilgrims stranded on the treacherous trek route to Kedarnath. The route was severely impacted by a cloudburst that occurred in Jangalchatti near Lincholi on Wednesday night, resulting in widespread damage.

According to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, rescue operations that began on Thursday morning have successfully evacuated 5,000 individuals to safety, with some being transported by air. The rescue efforts received vital assistance from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), as mentioned by CM Dhami.

Amit Shah offers support to Uttarakhand

Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally called Chief Minister Dhami to assess the progress of relief and rescue efforts, offering comprehensive support to mitigate the crisis. 

According to officials, by 3:30 pm on Friday, around 21,000 individuals had been rescued. Through a coordinated operation involving both aerial and ground support, the NDRF and SDRF teams evacuated more than 3,000 pilgrims to safety on Thursday, marking a significant success in the rescue efforts. 

Food, water and medical aid for pilgrims

A total of 18,000 food packets and 35,000 water bottles have been disbursed to pilgrims stranded in various locations, including Kedarnath, Lincholi, Bhimbali, Sonprayag, Shersi, Guptkashi, and Chaimasi, according to a state government release. Furthermore, Additional Chief Medical Officer Vimal Gusain reported that medical assistance was provided to 286 needy people. 

Route to Kedarnath temple blocked

A section of the Gaurikund-Kedarnath trek route was destroyed when the Mandakini river's strong currents washed away a 20-25 meter stretch of the road beyond Bhimbali on Wednesday night, leaving pilgrims stranded. The path to the temple has been obstructed by boulders at several locations, but authorities have assured that the stranded pilgrims are secure.

The district administration has set up two helpline numbers, 7579257572 and 01364-233387 and an emergency number, 112, to provide a convenient point of contact for people seeking information about their loved ones among the stranded pilgrims.