New Delhi:
Around 350 of the 1000 people stranded in the mountains between Gaurikund and Rambara on the Kedarnath axis in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand have been evacuated by special forces of the Indian Army.
Army teams today cleared the wreckage at the site of yesterday's helicopter crash and prepared that as landing ground. Evacuation started from the makeshift helipad in Jungle Chatti.
The rescue operations in the area is a big challenge for the Army as the terrain is extremely inhospitable, and is totally cut off. There are no roads connecting the area and it is very difficult for choppers to land, says the Army. (
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Medical and food supplies are also being flown in to the stranded people. (
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Brigadier Uma Maheshwar, from the Central Command, told NDTV, "It's very steep and near vertical mountain slopes. It is also a very narrow valley. Army troops were heli landed and in the last 24 hours intensive search operations were carried out. People are stranded at various places - wherever they could take shelter, wherever they felt it was safe is. It will take time for them to come down at one point."
"It's very challenging; but despite bad weather conditions, ground operations of the Army to continue," he added. (
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Nearly 27,000 people have been evacuated in and around the Kedarnath temple, which is the worst-affected area in the state. 557 people have been declared dead so far. (
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61 helicopters are being used in what is the military's largest rescue and relief operation ever.
There are warnings of rains to returning to the state either on Sunday or Monday. Experts say the next few hours will be crucial for the rescue operations.