Kedarnath Yatra passengers safely evacuated amid heavy rains in Uttarakhand

NEW DELHI: In a major rescue operation, around 1,500 passengers stranded on the Kedarnath Yatra route have been safely evacuated, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), police, and district administration in Rudraprayag.
The rescue mission came in the wake of heavy rains that battered various parts of Uttarakhand on Wednesday night, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, footbridges, power lines, and agricultural land.
The rescue operation saw around 425 passengers, who were stranded in Bhimbali, Rambada, and Lincholi on the Kedarnath route, being airlifted to safety. Additionally, 1,100 passengers trapped between Sonprayag and Bhimbali were moved to safer locations through an alternative route created by the authorities.
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who immediately took charge of the situation, visited the State Disaster Operations Center late at night to assess the damage and coordinate the response. He instructed officials to remain on high alert and personally spent Thursday touring the disaster-affected areas in Tehri and Rudraprayag districts. The chief minister conducted an aerial survey and reviewed the arrangements at relief and rescue camps.
The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police in Rudraprayag, leading the ground operations, successfully coordinated the evacuation of stranded pilgrims by 5pm on Thursday. Due to multiple landslides along the trekking route, the Kedarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.