Rudraprayag: As the sixth day unfolds since the cloudburst disaster struck the Kedarnath valley on 31 July, poor weather in Kedarnath shrine has grounded helicopters, hindering evacuation efforts. Despite this challenge, rescue workers have managed to transport 150 local individuals from Kedarnath to Bhim Bali on foot. Remarkably, a total of 11,874 people have been safely taken to their destinations during this crisis.
Evacuation operations are conducted by pedestrian routes
Today, on the sixth day of rescue operations, stranded individuals are being evacuated amid challenging weather conditions in Kedar Valley. On Tuesday, Helicopters were not able to fly due to the adverse weather, so the SDRF and NDRF personnel are conducting evacuation operations by pedestrian routes.
Construction of the footbridge over the Mandakini River
Today, the construction of the footbridge over the Mandakini River in Sonprayag has been successfully completed, significantly enhancing rescue efforts. Following the bridge’s completion, the NDRF is now transporting 161 people from Jungle Chatti to Chirbasa. The newly constructed bridge in Sonprayag has eased operations, and both the SDRF and NDRF teams remain in constant communication with the affected individuals.
Rehabilitation work started in Kedar Valley
Additionally, efforts to rehabilitate the roads and trekking routes in Kedar Valley are now underway. The Public Works Department (PWD) team is overseeing the construction of pedestrian routes at various locations. Moreover, repair work is in progress for the washout areas and other damaged roads between National Highway Gaurikund and Sonprayag.
2300 people are stranded in Kedarnath Dham
As of now, approximately 2,300 individuals remain stranded in Kedarnath Dham, including 50 pilgrims. Today, 400 of these individuals will be evacuated on foot. The remaining 1,900 people will stay in Kedarnath shrine, spanning from the base camp to the temple area. This group includes staff members from the Badri Kedar Temple Committee, Tirtha Purohits, Garhwal Mandal Development Corporation personnel, security staff, and laborers.