Uttarakhand: NDRF rescues 94 stranded people, 8 personnel from Kedarnath valley

Eight National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) personnel and 94 individuals, including children and patients were rescued from the Kedarnath valley on Monday. Rescue operations, which had been hindered by poor weather conditions, resumed today.

The Indian Air Force’s MI-17 and Chinook helicopters transported the rescued passengers to Chardham helipad and Gauchar airstrips, respectively. The Ministry of Defence posted on X: “IAF continues rescue operations in Kedarnath. Mi17 and ALH helicopters are operating from Guptakashi while Chinook is operating from Gauchar helipad, conducting multiple sorties to pick up stranded people from Kedar Valley.”

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has established a medical camp in Gauchar to aid those being rescued.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also took to X to thank the local people for their assistance. His post read, “This is the culture of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ of Devbhoomi. The administration is receiving full support from the local people in the ongoing rescue operation in the Kedarnath area.

Earlier today, dog squads led by District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Nandan Singh Rajawar commenced search operations from Rambara to the Bhimbali area in Rudraprayag. Additionally, 133 people were safely airlifted by MI-17 and Chinook helicopters, along with other smaller helicopters, by 9 am on Monday.