In Uttarakhand, Army, Indian Tibet Borer Police and National Disaster Response Force teams have rescued about 56 thousand pilgrims and tourists from disaster affected areas till now. They have been rescued mostly from Kedar valley region in Rudraprayag district and Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Tehri and Pithoragarh districts.
AIR correspondent reports from Dehradun that Army successfully landed its helicopters in the remote areas of Jangalchatti in Kedar valley and evacuation of stranded pilgrims has begun from Garudchatti and Gaurikund areas. About 63 thousand are still stranded in different districts. IAF have deployed its heavy helicopters having capacity to carry people in good numbers.
Army, ITBP and NDRF have also dropped their commandos to help pilgrims and tourists stranded in remote areas in Kedar Valley and developing landing facilities for helicopters. A team of Indian Navy has also reached today to support the rescue operation.
NDRF has deployed its three teams at Guptkashi base camp in Kedar valley. They are also in process of movement to higher locations of areas. One of them is to carry out search and rescue operations between Gaurikund and Rambada area in the valley.
Army Commander of Lucknow based Central Command Lt Gen Anil Chait today reviewed relief arrangements made by the army in disaster hit areas. He also met the state Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna at Dehradun. He said opening of damaged roads and identification of shelter places in high reaches are top priority of army rescue teams. He said trained commandos from army have been deputed in the operation.
Two special Trains have already started running from Haridwar. They were run to Lucknow and Delhi respectively. Railways have set up helplines. Hardwar’s helpline numbers are 9760534054/09760534055, Dehradun numbers is 01352-622131 and Rishikesh helpline number is 01352-434167.
State government has sanctioned additional 103 crore rupees for rescue and relief operations.
ITBP has deployed its 1,000 men in relief work in the state. It has said that the worst affected Kedarnath temple area has been evacuated of people and there could still be about 400-500 people in the upper reaches. ITBP spokesperson has said that they were not in a position to give the complete death toll figure in the disaster unless bodies are recovered.
The Boarder Road Organisation BRO and Army have opened several roads affected in landslide in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Tehri, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh districts Vehicle’s movement has begun on NH-94 between Dharasu and Rishikesh and road linking Sitapur- Guptkashi- Mayali- Ghansali has been opened. In Badrinath region several roads in Chamoli district have also been opened to move stranded pilgrims and tourists by road transport. Communication nodes have been established at Gaucher, Harsil, Joshimath and Rudraprayag by the Army to enable people to contact their families.
Meanwhile state government has confirmed 207 causalities and about 400 hundred persons have been given medical assistance. In Haridwar 48 dead bodies were recovered from river Ganga. They have been kept at District hospital Haridwar. One of them has been identified as Dinesh Kumar Singh from Badaun district in Uttar Pradesh on the basis of an identity card recovered from the body.
The state government has set up control rooms in all districts.
