Kedarnath Gaurikund landslide – Rescue for 1865 completed with help of SDRF , NDRF and Air Force

The rescue operation for pilgrims stranded along the rain-ravaged trek route to the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand has entered its third day on Saturday. Over 10,500 people have been evacuated, with some being airlifted by Indian Air Force helicopters. Around 1,300 pilgrims remain stranded in Kedarnath, Bhimbali, and Gaurikund but are reported to be safe.

Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the police are actively involved in the rescue efforts. On Friday, Indian Air Force’s Chinook and MI17 helicopters were used to airlift some of the pilgrims.

Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishakha Ashok Bhadane dispelled rumors of a large number of people missing following a cloudburst near the trek route. She mentioned that most reported individuals have returned home and requested the public to avoid believing such rumors. However, the trek route to Kedarnath suffered significant damage due to the cloudburst in Junglechatti near Lincholi on Wednesday night, causing a 20-25 meter stretch of the road to be washed away by the swollen Mandakini River.

The yatra to Kedarnath has been temporarily halted, and the administration has advised pilgrims to stay put until the route is cleared of debris and repaired. Two helpline numbers—7579257572 and 01364-233387—and an emergency number 112 have been issued to assist people seeking information about their stranded relatives.

The Uttarakhand government’s animal husbandry department has also dispatched helicopters loaded with animal fodder for mules and horses affected by the landslide in Kedarnath Valley. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand has been facing severe weather conditions, leading to the deaths of more than a dozen people and leaving several others missing. The Indian Air Force has provided helicopters to aid in rescue operations, and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has assured all necessary assistance.

The Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has asked officials to remain alert and directed Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman to maintain coordination with the District Magistrates. An advisory has been issued for Kedarnath-bound pilgrims who have reached Rudraprayag, urging them to wait until they receive official updates about the weather and the restoration of roads. Both the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers in Rudraprayag district are reported to be flowing close to the danger mark.