Rudraprayag: In a prompt rescue operation, three trekkers who were trapped in a forest fire during their trek from Deoriatal to Chopta on Monday were safely rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), and the forest department teams.
The incident occurred when the trekkers lost their way due to a sudden forest fire that broke out in the area. According to information from the District Control Room in Rudraprayag, one of the trekkers sustained injuries and had to stop midway. His companion decided to stay back and assist him, while the third trekker went ahead to seek help but also ended up getting injured.
DDRF and Forest Department teams quickly sprang into action
The DDRF and Forest Department teams quickly sprang into action upon receiving the distress call. They managed to locate and rescue two of the stranded trekkers. The responsibility of finding the third trekker fell to the SDRF. A SDRF team, which covered approximately eight kilometers on foot through dense forest to locate the injured trekker, identified as Adhiraj Chauhan, a 21-year-old resident of Udaipur, Rajasthan.
SDRF safely transported injured trekker to the main road
Upon finding Adhiraj, the SDRF team administered first aid and, with great effort, safely transported him to the main road using a stretcher. From there, he was taken to a hospital for further treatment. Inspector Karn Singh praised his team for their swift and coordinated efforts in ensuring the safety of the injured trekker.
Additional SDRF team for remaining two trekkers
In a bid to ensure the safe evacuation of the remaining two trekkers, an additional SDRF team, led by Sub-Inspector Dharmendra Panwar, was dispatched from Sonprayag to assist the DDRF and Forest Department teams. The rescue operation continued late into the night. The second SDRF team trekked six kilometers through difficult terrain and adverse conditions to bring the injured trekker to the main road on a stretcher, where he was then taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Local administration is urging trekkers to be cautious
The forest fire in the Chopta-Deoriatal area has raised concerns among trekkers and authorities alike. The local administration is urging trekkers to be cautious and to stay informed about the weather and forest conditions before embarking on their journeys. Efforts are also being made to contain the fire and prevent further incidents. The quick response and effective rescue operation by the SDRF and DDRF teams have been widely praised, bringing relief to the families of the stranded trekkers and highlighting the readiness of the emergency response teams in Uttarakhand.
