On Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami discussed the extensive damage caused by recent heavy rains to the Kedarnath trek route and national highways with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Dhami emphasized the urgent need for restoration work due to the anticipated influx of pilgrims and tourists post-monsoon. Gadkari assured Dhami of all possible assistance to address the situation.
Garhwal Commissioner Appointed for Restoration Oversight
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey has been appointed as the nodal officer for overseeing the restoration of basic infrastructure on the Kedarnath trek route. Dhami also conducted a virtual meeting with officials to review the ongoing rescue operations and instructed the disaster management department and Public Works Department secretaries to visit the affected areas and expedite restoration efforts.
Ongoing Rescue Operations and Evacuation Efforts
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar indicated that, weather permitting, clearing debris and boulders from the trek route to the Himalayan temple could take up to a week. Repair work on a 150-meter breached stretch of the route is set to commence soon.
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman reported that efforts are underway to evacuate the remaining 1,000 pilgrims en route to the temple. All evacuees are safe and well cared for. Since rescue operations began on Thursday morning, 9,099 pilgrims have been evacuated. However, a state disaster management department release on Friday night reported that 10,715 pilgrims had been evacuated since operations started on August 1.
The Indian Air Force’s Chinook and MI17 helicopters are assisting in the rescue efforts, which are expected to gain momentum now that the Cheerbasa helipad, also damaged by the recent rains, has been fully repaired and operationalized by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).