LATEST PIX: Army bravehearts rescue thousands in U'khand

The Indian Army has launched one of the biggest human rescue operations in Uttarakhand. On Thursday it mobilised troops for rescue and relief efforts, as it simultaneously reached out to over 8,000 people on all four different axes, viz, Rishikesh-Uttarkashi-Harsil-Gangotri axis; Rudraprayag -Kedarnath axis, Joshimath-Badrinath axis and Dharchhula -Tawaghat axis in Pithoragarh district, a statement said.

The army opened road upto Uttarkashi after clearing 16 landslides. Road has also been opened upto Sonprayag on Kedarnath axis after successful launch of bridge across Vasuki Ganga between Mundkatiya and Sonprayag.

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2,500 stranded people have been evacuated from Sonprayag due to this newly opened road, the statement added.

The area of Kedarnath is totally cut off, especially the stretch between Gourikund and Sonprayag. Troops skilled in mountain rescue operations including paratroopers, heli-dropped with specialised equipment, have been inducted to reach out and link up with people stranded in isolated areas along Kedarnath and Badrinath axis.

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The army has so far rescued more than 11,000 people, mainly from Govindghat and Harsil. About 10,000 people are also being provided food and medical assistance, the statement noted.

On receiving information that 50 to 60 people were stranded and isolated on Pindari glacier and 12 on Sunder Dunga glacier in Kumaon region, an army column led by two officers and 77 soldiers reached Kapkot in Bageshwar district Thursday morning.

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The column is currently moving by foot towards Gumla and is expected to reach both the glaciers and is likely to link up with people by Friday, the statement said.

The army also established contact and rescued 11 members and 43 porters of a mountain expedition from Arva Tal on Gangotri-Mana axis. Expedition members have now been brought safely to Ghastoli and will be relocated to Badrinath after medical aid is rendered.

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Communication modes have been established at Gaucher, Harsil, Joshimath and Rudraprayag to enable people to contact their families. 30 Satellite phones have so far been inducted, 20 more are likely to be inducted for use by stranded pilgrims.

The army is presently carrying out reconnaissance to examine the feasibility of making a larger helipad at Gagaria on Hemkund Sahib axis so that large number of people can be evacuated using MI-17 helicopters.

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Efforts are presently underway to repair the bridge over Alaknanda between Govindghat and Ghagria on Hemkund Sahib road, the statement added.

Six army columns are also currently deployed for rescue & relief operations in Pilibhit, Muzaffarnagar, Laksar and Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. Two other columns have since returned from Saharanpur and Bijnor districts after evacuating 98 people and construction of anti flood bund. 114 people have been evacuated so far from Pilibhit district.

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