Dehradun: With the flash floods wreaking havoc in Uttarakhand, the relief operations are in full swing and as many as 15000 people have been rescued so far. According to ITBP Director General Ajay Chadda, all those who were stuck in Kedarnath have been rescued. He said that at least 1000 people were rescued from Gaurikund.
Addressing a press conference, the ITBP DG said that around 100 paratroopers had reached Gaurikund where at least 1500 people remained stuck.
Meanwhile, food packets have also been dropped in Gaurikund and other places by Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel. Thousand personnel of the ITBP are involved in the rescue operations in the region.
Earlier, in its report to the Union Home Ministry, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre has said that casualties in the affected areas may run into thousands with about 90 ‘dharamashalas' (rest houses for pilgrims) swept away in the flash floods. However, the toll has been kept officially at 150.
"It is a calamity that has numbed me by its sheer magnitude," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had said.
The turbulent Mandakini river swallowed huge swathes of land near the Kedarnath shrine. Officials said most of the government and private hotels and lodges and 100 shops around the temple have been flattened.
With the weather clearing up, the focus was on rescue operations. Over 15,000 people stranded in Kedarnath and Govindghat on way to Hemkund Sahib have been evacuated so far to Joshimath relief camps through air and road routes, IG police R S Meena said.
List of rescued people
Helpline Numbers
"Apart from the 12 helicopters already engaged in rescue operations in affected areas, eight more have been roped in for the purpose to step up the process," Meena said.
Rescue efforts are being concentrated as of now on Kedarnath shrine and its adjoining areas in Rudraprayag district which has been the worst hit with about 90 dharamshalas in the temple area, where pilgrims were staying having been swept away by the flood waters, he said.
Two helicopters have flown from Dehradun to evacuate stranded people. The Army has also deployed its mountain rescue teams to evacuate the pilgrims. Scores of villages remain under water and cannot be tracked. Hence there is uncertainty about the casualties caused, he said, adding the "devastation is massive".
While the Army choppers have rescued hundreds from near the Kedarnath temple, it was only today that paratroopers have reached Guarikund – the base camp from where pilgrims begin the 14 kilometre trek to Kedarnath. Army has also deployed mountain rescue teams to rescue stranded.
Earlier, some reports had claimed that 5000 people are missing in Gaurikund region. Ramban, midway between Kedarnath and Gaurikund, has also been completely flattened. The resting point had over 100 shops and was home to over 80 families.
The entire trek route to Kedarnath, one of the most revered Hindu shrines, had been ripped apart and would remain out of bounds for at least a year.
The full impact of nature's fury was visible as days of blinding rains -- 380 mm, some 450 percent more than usual -- abated and the skies cleared yesterday, allowing the army and paramilitary forces to rescue thousands of pilgrims and tourists in the devastated temple town of Kedarnath.
Survivors returning from there said that they saw bodies on roadsides. Entire stretches of mountain roads disappeared in landslides, rendering rescue work difficult.
Families of those missing are hoping that their near and dear ones are safe. Most are not able to get through their kin as telecom infrastructure has collapsed in the affected areas.
With PTI inputs
Addressing a press conference, the ITBP DG said that around 100 paratroopers had reached Gaurikund where at least 1500 people remained stuck.
Meanwhile, food packets have also been dropped in Gaurikund and other places by Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel. Thousand personnel of the ITBP are involved in the rescue operations in the region.
Earlier, in its report to the Union Home Ministry, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre has said that casualties in the affected areas may run into thousands with about 90 ‘dharamashalas' (rest houses for pilgrims) swept away in the flash floods. However, the toll has been kept officially at 150.
"It is a calamity that has numbed me by its sheer magnitude," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had said.
The turbulent Mandakini river swallowed huge swathes of land near the Kedarnath shrine. Officials said most of the government and private hotels and lodges and 100 shops around the temple have been flattened.
With the weather clearing up, the focus was on rescue operations. Over 15,000 people stranded in Kedarnath and Govindghat on way to Hemkund Sahib have been evacuated so far to Joshimath relief camps through air and road routes, IG police R S Meena said.
Helpline Numbers
"Apart from the 12 helicopters already engaged in rescue operations in affected areas, eight more have been roped in for the purpose to step up the process," Meena said.
Rescue efforts are being concentrated as of now on Kedarnath shrine and its adjoining areas in Rudraprayag district which has been the worst hit with about 90 dharamshalas in the temple area, where pilgrims were staying having been swept away by the flood waters, he said.
Two helicopters have flown from Dehradun to evacuate stranded people. The Army has also deployed its mountain rescue teams to evacuate the pilgrims. Scores of villages remain under water and cannot be tracked. Hence there is uncertainty about the casualties caused, he said, adding the "devastation is massive".
While the Army choppers have rescued hundreds from near the Kedarnath temple, it was only today that paratroopers have reached Guarikund – the base camp from where pilgrims begin the 14 kilometre trek to Kedarnath. Army has also deployed mountain rescue teams to rescue stranded.
The entire trek route to Kedarnath, one of the most revered Hindu shrines, had been ripped apart and would remain out of bounds for at least a year.
The full impact of nature's fury was visible as days of blinding rains -- 380 mm, some 450 percent more than usual -- abated and the skies cleared yesterday, allowing the army and paramilitary forces to rescue thousands of pilgrims and tourists in the devastated temple town of Kedarnath.
Survivors returning from there said that they saw bodies on roadsides. Entire stretches of mountain roads disappeared in landslides, rendering rescue work difficult.
Families of those missing are hoping that their near and dear ones are safe. Most are not able to get through their kin as telecom infrastructure has collapsed in the affected areas.
With PTI inputs
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