Rudraprayag: After twelve days of relentless efforts to rescue the stranded people in Kedarnath valley following a cloudburst on 31 July, the first phase of rescue operation in Kedar Valley was completed on Sunday. Subsequently, 78 people, who voluntarily stayed back in Kedarnath, were taken to Guptkashi on Sunday through Mi-17, which included local shopkeepers, seers-saints, horse-mule drivers, and others.
MI-17 departs but Chinook will stay for some time
When the first phase of rescue operation came to an end, Airforce’s MI-17 helicopter was sent back as there was no passenger left to be airlifted in Kedar valley. Additionally, the locals were also brought back by using MI-17 helicopters on Sunday. Apart from this, food items and other essential goods and logistics that were to be delivered to Kedarnath Dham have been delivered through MI-17 and state helicopters.
The 10-day operation saw IAF Mi-17 V5 and Chinook helicopters navigate challenging conditions, evacuating the old, injured, and ailing. Over 6 tons of relief material was airlifted. A Chinook remains on standby, while the Mi-17 V5 has been de-inducted.#HADROps#HarKaamDeshKeNaam pic.twitter.com/hAAxJBsTs2
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 11, 2024
Excavator machine is to be transported to the Kedarnath shrine by Chinook helicopter
On the other hand, Airforce’s Chinook helicopter has been assigned with another duty to deliver some heavy machines to Kedarnath. As soon as the weather clears, Chinook will also be dispatched after delivering the big machines in Kedarnath for further work. Wing Commander Shailesh Singh said that Chinook and MI-17 reached Gauchar on August 1. “Heavy machinery like an excavator machine is to be transported to the Kedarnath shrine by Chinook helicopter” he added.
78 people were brought back from Kedarnath on Sunday
Taking the help of MI-17 and Chinook, a total of 78 people, which included local shopkeepers and sadhus, who had voluntarily stayed back in Kedarnath, were taken to Guptkashi in the morning. Notably, heavy rain on July 31 triggered a number of landslides along the Kedarnath trek route, leaving thousands of pilgrims stranded in Kedarnath, Gaurikund, Lincholi and Bhimbali.
More than 15,000 people were evacuated safely in a week in the rescue operation
Since the Kedarnath trek route is under repair work, therefore, the air services to Kedarnath resumed on Thursday. According to the state government, more than 15,000 people were evacuated safely in a week in the rescue operation. After this calamity, the trek route was severely affected at 29 places, out of which repairs have made pedestrian movement possible in 25 places, officials said.
CM instructed to speed up repair work
Uttarakhand’s CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has also given instructions to make the remaining routes smooth soon so that the Char Dham Yatra can be resumed on foot as soon as possible. Repair work on damaged roads on the Kedarnath route continued in full swing on Sunday.
