In Uttarakhand, the Army, ITBP and NDRF today concentrated its evacuation operation by air mainly at Badrinath, Gangotri valley and Pithoragarh district. Most of the pilgrims are stranded in these regions. Helicopters have started sorties from Sahastradhara helipad and Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun and other helipads and airbases across the affected districts to evacuate the pilgrims.
AIR Correspondent reports from Dehradun that evacuation is taking place by land routes at Badrighat, Gangotri valley and in Pithoragarh district under the supervision of Army and ITBP. Rescue operations by air were stalled for several hours in most part of the disaster affected areas this morning due to bad weather. The rescue operations at the altitude are getting difficult due to inclement weather, with dense clouds and occasional drizzling. About 25 pilgrims have been evacuated from Ghanghariya, Lambagad and Badrinath by small helicopters in Chamoli district. In Uttarkashi, stranded pilgrims have been evacuated by army helicopters from Maneri and Harshil, they have been brought at Dharasu for further journey by buses. Fresh landslides have affected several road routes in different parts of the disaster affected areas including major Gangotri- Yamunotri Highway and Rishikesh- Badrinath Highway.
Para Motor Strikes have been introduced in Kedar valley to locate the stranded pilgrims from Gaurikund to Kedar temple campus. Meghalaya Paragliding Association has provided two Para Motor Strikes for the search operation. The rescue relief teams have claimed that stranded pilgrims have been evacuated from the entire valley.
Bad weather has also affected supply of food and other essentials in Pithoragarh. Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims are stranded in the district. Pilgrims evacuated by air and brought at Dharasu in Gangotri valley and Joshimath in Badrinath are being sent to nearest railway and bus stations. In Kedarnath valley Guptkashi has been cleared and pilgrims evacuated from remote Jangalchatti have been moved to Tehri by road.rtation. All people have been evacuated from Kedarnath valley, Ghanghariya, Jangalchatti and Yamunotri region.
Our Correspondent reports that the state government has said that if weather favours, all remaining stranded pilgrims and tourists will be evacuated within four days. An official spokesperson said at Dehradun that all stranded pilgrims at Harshil in Uttarkashi and Sirkha and Badiagad in Pithoragrah will be evacuated by this evening and evacuation of 2500 stranded pilgrims at Badrinath will take four days of time.
The Member of National Disaster Management Authority NDMA and former Home Secretary V.K. Duggal held a meeting last evening at Dehradun with the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.
Meanwhile, local administration with the help of the IAF and the Army today launched a massive operation to send logistics like firewood and fuel for conducting last rites of those killed in the worst-hit Kedarnath Valley.
In view of the imminent spread of diseases and the rotting of the bodies in the temple town, the administration has decided their mass cremation. Army Helicopters have taken sorties from Goucher helipad to Kedar valley carrying materials for last rituals. Directions have been issued to start the funeral in Kedarnath today.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today visited Guptkashi and met people affected in the disaster. He also visited relief camps. He was at Goucher during the night. He had reached Dehradun yesterday.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, ITBP, has resumed its operations in Kedarnath and Harsil among other places with the improvement in the weather conditions. Talking to AIR correspondent in New Delhi, Director General of ITBP, Ajay Chadha said, relief work has started again and evacuation from Badrianth will start soon. He said, ITBP has stopped evacuation operations on ground at Badrinath due to inclement weather conditions there, but will wait for some time and if the weather does not deterioate further it will carry out operations again.
