Rescue Operations in Uttarakhand: 737 People Airlifted from Kedarnath Route
Heavy rains have severely damaged the route in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, causing the suspension of the Kedarnath Yatra. Rescue and relief work is ongoing to evacuate stranded people.
Rescue Efforts
According to Uttarakhand police, 737 people were rescued by helicopter, and 2,670 were taken to Sonprayag by relief forces. The Uttarakhand police posted on their official handle, ‘The rescue work of people stranded on the Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra route is continuing. 737 passengers were rescued by helicopter throughout the day. 2,670 passengers were taken to Sonprayag. SDRF, NDRF, DDRF, District Police and Administration teams are selflessly helping the devotees.’
Official Statements
Uttarakhand Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar informed that the Kedarnath Yatra has been suspended for two days due to weather conditions. He stated, ‘We had received an alert from the Meteorological Department about heavy rains in the state for 48 hours. In view of this alert, the police, NDRF, SDRF, and local administration were put on alert. After the rain started last night, we started getting reports of landslides, rock falls, etc. from various areas.’
He added, ‘Teams were sent to many places for relief and rescue. The Chief Minister visited Tehri and Rudraprayag and met the affected people. So far, 11 people have died in various districts and 8 are seriously injured. By morning, about 1000 people were stranded in Kedarnath and 800 people were stranded on the trek route of Kedarnath.’
Government Actions
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a ground inspection of the rain-affected areas in Tehri and Rudraprayag. He instructed officials to remain in alert mode and visited the State Disaster Operations Centre to inquire about the damage. The state government has taken the help of the Air Force to evacuate people stranded in Kedarnath.
Heavy rains have caused significant damage to roads, footbridges, power and drinking water lines, and agricultural land. The Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped for the time being due to landslides on the Kedarnath footpath.
Doubts Revealed
Uttarakhand -: Uttarakhand is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath.
Kedarnath Yatra -: Kedarnath Yatra is a pilgrimage journey to the Kedarnath Temple, which is a holy place for Hindus located in the Himalayas.
NDRF -: NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force. They are special teams in India that help people during natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
SDRF -: SDRF stands for State Disaster Response Force. They are similar to NDRF but work at the state level to help during emergencies.
Airlifted -: Airlifted means that people were rescued by helicopters and taken to a safe place from a dangerous area.
Rudraprayag district -: Rudraprayag is a district in Uttarakhand, which is known for its religious significance and natural beauty.
DGP -: DGP stands for Director General of Police. He is the top police officer in a state.
Chief Minister -: The Chief Minister is the head of the government in a state in India. He or she makes important decisions for the state.
Landslides -: Landslides happen when rocks and soil slide down a hill or mountain, often caused by heavy rain.
Rock falls -: Rock falls are when rocks fall from a mountain or cliff, which can be very dangerous.
Air Force assistance -: Air Force assistance means that the Indian Air Force is helping with the rescue operations, usually by using helicopters to evacuate people.
