The death toll from the Uttarakhand cloudburst has risen to 14 while six are critically injured after the state witnessed flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.
On the brighter side, the police said on Friday that as many as 737 people have been evacuated by choppers while 2,670 people have been rushed to Sonprayag for relief assistance.
Meanwhile, the Kedarnath valley was entirely isolated due to a landslide near Bhimbhali on the trekking path, leaving approximately 450 people stranded. Additionally, the Kedarnath highway was destroyed by flooding between Sonprayag and Gaurikund.
Authorities have also suspended the Kedarnath Yatra amid the inclement weather conditions as the heavy downpour triggered landslides at many places. The trek route remains blocked by boulders at Ghoraparav, Lincholi, Badi Lincholi and Bhimbali.
Talking about the weather conditions that triggered the disaster, Uttarakhand Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar said, “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.”
IAF conducts rescue ops
The Indian Air Force today started to conduct rescue operations in Kedarnath using the Mi17V5 and Chinooks.
In an official statement, the Uttarakhand government said the Centre has dispatched two Indian Air Force helicopters, a Chinook and an MI 17, to aid rescue operations in the state after the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) took stock of the situation in the wake of the intense showers.
Three aviation turbine fuel tankers have also been sent, it said, adding that the PMO has assured Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of all necessary assistance. BJP president JP Nadda also reviewed the situation, the statement said.
Kedarnath cut off
Meanwhile, the Kedarnath valley was entirely isolated due to a landslide near Bhimbhali on the trekking path, leaving approximately 450 people stranded. Additionally, the Kedarnath highway was destroyed by flooding between Sonprayag and Gaurikund.
Authorities have also suspended the Kedarnath Yatra amid the inclement weather conditions as the heavy downpour triggered landslides at many places. The trek route remains blocked by boulders at Ghoraparav, Lincholi, Badi Lincholi and Bhimbali.
The State Disaster Disaster Response (SDRF) has constructed a new 1 km route through the mountains mountains to rescue people trapped beyond Bhimbali.
SDRF commandant Manikant Mishra reported, “Approximately 425 people stranded in Bhimbali, Rambara, and Lincholi along the Kedarnath yatra route were airlifted. Additionally, nearly 1,100 people stranded between Sonprayag and Bhimbali were relocated to a safer location using the alternative route.”
With inputs from PTI
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