Uttarkashi: About 1,500 pilgrims stranded in the Chirbasa area along the Kedarnath trek route after a landslide were successfully evacuated, officials said on Monday.
Joint teams comprising the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) rescued and escorted approximately 1,500 pilgrims to Gaurikund after they were stranded late Sunday night, the SDRF said in a press statement.
It said Sonprayag police received information that several pilgrims were stranded in the Chirbasa area, located about 3 kilometres from Gaurikund, due to a landslide.
Upon receiving the information, an SDRF team from Sonprayag, led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Dimri, arrived at the site and found debris on the road near the Chirbasa helipad, officials said.
Continuous rockfalls from the hillside also made the movement of pilgrims hazardous, prompting the SDRF, NDRF and DDRF teams to launch a joint rescue operation.
The rescue teams guided the pilgrims across the landslide zone and safely escorted them to the other side before sending them onward to Gaurikund, according to the statement.
The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Sunday due to incessant heavy rain, officials said.
