Noida 02 August 2024: Heavy rains severely damaged the route in Rudraprayag district on Wednesday night. Rescue and relief efforts to evacuate stranded individuals are currently underway.
Rescue Operations
According to Uttarakhand police, 737 people were rescued by helicopter, and at least 2,670 people were taken to Sonprayag by relief forces as of Thursday. In an official post on X, Uttarakhand police stated, “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
Abhinav Kumar, Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, provided information about the relief and rescue operations following the heavy rains. He appealed to the state’s residents and travelers to be cautious and adhere to official instructions. Due to heavy rainfall in Tehri and Rudraprayag districts, the Kedarnath Yatra has been suspended for two days. Uttarakhand DGP Abhinav Kumar informed that 12 NDRF teams and 60 SDRF teams are engaged in rescue operations.
Weather Alert and Response
In a statement to ANI, DGP Abhinav Kumar said, “We received an alert from the Meteorological Department about heavy rains in the state for 48 hours. In response, the police, NDRF, SDRF, and local administration were put on alert. Reports of landslides and rock falls began coming in from various areas after the rain started last night.”
Teams were dispatched to multiple locations for relief and rescue efforts. The Chief Minister visited Tehri and Rudraprayag to meet affected people. So far, 11 people have died and 8 are seriously injured. About 1000 people were stranded in Kedarnath, and 800 people were stranded on the Kedarnath trek route.
Suspension of Kedarnath Yatra
Due to the weather warning, the Yatra has been suspended for the next two days, and the movement of pilgrims on the Yamunotri and Kedarnath trek routes has been restricted. The state government has enlisted the help of the Air Force to evacuate people stranded in Kedarnath. NDRF teams and 60 SDRF teams are actively engaged in rescue operations.
Government Actions
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a ground inspection of the rain-affected areas in Tehri and Rudraprayag on Thursday. The heavy rains on Wednesday night caused significant damage to roads, footbridges, power and drinking water lines, as well as agricultural land. Upon receiving information about the disaster, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami became active immediately, reaching the State Disaster Operations Centre at night to inquire about the damage caused by the heavy rains across the state. He instructed officials to remain on high alert.
Safety Measures
The Kedarnath Yatra has been temporarily halted for the safety of passengers due to landslides at multiple locations on the Kedarnath footpath.
