The Indian Air Force transported 201 individuals, including 17 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from the Kedarnath Valley, to safer places. Up until Monday, almost 2000 kg of dependable material were also delivered to the state’s most important regions.

Eight NDRF employees and 94 individuals, comprising both patients and children, were evacuated from the Kedarnath Valley early on Monday morning.

The rescue efforts that were impeded by the unfavourable weather in the valley have recommenced today. The Indian Air Force’s MI-17 and Chinook helicopters deplaned the evacuated passengers at the Gauchar and Chardham airstrips, respectively. The MI-17 and Chinook helicopters of the Indian Air Force dropped off the airlifted passengers at Chardham helipad and Gauchar airstrips respectively.

The Ministry of Defence in a post on X posted “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.” 

Additionally, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to X and thanked the local people for providing help to the administration. The post read, “This is the culture of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ of Devbhoomi. The administration is getting full support from the local people in the ongoing rescue operation in the Kedarnath area. Village head Shri Mulayam Singh Tindori, President of Sonprayag Vyapar Mandal Shri Ankit Gairola, Shri Dharmesh Nautiyal (Shersi), Shri Dirghayu Goswami (Gaurikund), former heads of villages, all villagers, horse-mule operators, officers and members of BKTC, Tirtha Purohit Samaj, employees of GMVN are also actively involved in rescue operations along with the local administration. It is because of the tireless efforts of all of you that the major damage caused by excessive rain could be prevented. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Jai Hind, Jai Uttarakhand.” 

Dog squads led by District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Nandan Singh Rajawar began searching earlier today, moving from Rambara to the Bhimbali neighbourhood of Rudraprayag.

The search and rescue operation for the travellers who became stuck on the Kedarnath road on July 31 as a result of torrential rains is proceeding on a war footing, according to Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.

(with inputs from ANI)