New Delhi: Jyaistha 31, 1935
Friday , June 21, 2013
Army today opened the all important road link from Sonprayag to Gauri Kund which is the base camp for trek to Kedarnath. Approximately 1000 people stranded at Gauri Kund are now being evacuated along the newly opened road to Sonprayag and Tehri. Army Para troopers with specialized mountaineering equipment reached out to people stuck in various gorges, ravines and nallas between Gauri Kund and Ram Bara this morning. 70 men are now carrying out search operations in Ram Bara area which was washed away by floods. Army Aviation pilots landed a special force at Jungle Chatti near Ram Bara and rescued 16 people from the river bed.
In the Joshimath sector, Army constructed a temporary bridge across Alaknanda River near Govind Ghat to facilitate stranded Hemkund Sahib pilgrims to cross over. Similarly two land slides between Govind Ghat and Gagariya have been cleared paving the way for pilgrims to move by foot. 500 people have been evacuated so far. Army teams reached Badrinath and Ghagriya, 91 people were evacuated by Army helicopters from Badrinath and 322 people were air lifted from Gagaria.
Army Aviation helicopters so far flew 104 sorties with 11 aircraft evacuating 523 people and delivering 13,000 Kgs of food, fuel and medicines.
Army teams last night reached Gangotri for the first time since the floods. Approximately 500 people in Gangotri are now in the process of being evacuated to Harsil. Army camp at Harsil provided shelter, food and medical aid to 1500 people. Some of them have since been evacuated by helicopters from Harsil. Army today air lifted 3.6 tons of food to Harsil. Road Rishikesh – Gangotri has been opened upto Uttarkashi; road between Uttarkashi to Harsil is still not open to traffic due to land slides at number of places. This 74 Km stretch will be the focus of Army’s attention from tomorrow.
In Pithoragarh district, eight stranded civilians were evacuated by Army helicopter from Milam today. A medical camp was established at Tijam providing medical aid to people affected by floods. 65 patients were treated by Army Medical team at Gothi in Pithoragarh district. 160 civilians were evacuated from inundated areas and moved to upper reaches and were given first aid, food and shelter.
Army team has been heli landed 12 Kms inside Pindari glacier in Bageshwar district of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand to link up and evacuate 50 people stranded on the glacier.
Four flood relief columns of Army are assisting civil administration in evacuating people from flood affected areas of Pilibhit, Laksar, Mawana and parts of East Delhi. 1354 people have so far been evacuated from Pilibhit alone.