Cloudburst News: IAF Rescues Kedarnath Pilgrims, Army Builds Temporary Bridge In Himachal For Relief Ops
The rescue operations in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh continued on Saturday, days after incidents of cloudburst struck the two states.
Cloudburst Update: The rescue operations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand continued on Saturday morning days after a cloudburst triggered by heavy rains caused havoc in the two states. The death toll caused by the flash floods due to the cloudburst rose to eight in Himachal Pradesh on Friday, while 45 people were reported missing.
In Uttarakhand, scores of pilgrims were left stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath, which suffered extensive damage as a result of a cloudburst in Junglechatti near Lincholi on Wednesday night.
On Friday, the IAF's Chinook and MI17 helicopters joined the rescue operations in the state to evacuate the stranded pilgrims. Amid the chaos caused by flash floods, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more showers in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, which are likely to cause more damage.
Here Are Top Updates On Cloudbursts
- Security forces continued the search and rescue operations in Uttarakhand. Several pilgrims and locals stranded at various places in Kedar Valley were being rescued after roads sustained damage in the area following heavy rains, as reported by news agency PTI.
- The Indian Army built a temporary bridge as rescue and restoration works continued in Rampur's Samej in Himachal Pradesh.
- Parts of Kullu-Manali Highway washed away in the cloudburst that occurred on August 1.
- The pedestrian route to Kedarnath has been damaged due to landslides following heavy rains in the region. Rescue teams were carrying out relief and rescue operations on Saturday.
- Stranded Kedarnath pilgrims were brought to Gauchar Helipad by IAF Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters on Friday.
- SDRF used drones during the rescue work in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag on Friday.
- Several pilgrims who were stranded on the Kedarnath route due to heavy rainfall and cloudburst have been rescued so far by SDRF.
- On the Himachal Pradesh cloudburst, Special Secretary, Disaster Management DC Rana told news agency ANI, "A cloudburst in the Samej area of Shimla district, Rampur region, Baghipul area of Kullu, and Paddar area of Mandi has led to widespread destruction. 53 people are missing, and six bodies have been recovered... Over sixty houses have been washed away, and numerous villages have been severely affected by the floods. NDRF and SDRF have saved the people who were stranded."
- In Uttarakhand, 14 people lost their lives and 10 others were injured in flash floods and a house collapse as several rivers swelled in the state, officials said on Thursday.
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