PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Two persons died, one went missing while three sustained injuries in a massive landslide which struck the bridle path to Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district on Wednesday. Three people have died in the past three days on the bridle path to Kedarnath.
The Rudraprayag superintendent of police Akshay Kondey said that debris and large stones came crashing down from the hillside around 11:20 AM on the bridle path near Junglechatti Gadera which is frequented daily by hundreds of pilgrims. He informed that rescue teams including police personnel, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) and others reached the spot promptly after receiving the alert. They launched a joint rescue operation, pulling victims out of the rubble and transporting them via stretchers to Gaurikund. A few victims had also fallen into a nearby gorge due to the force of the landslide. They were also rescued and referred to Gaurikund for further treatment.
The injured were immediately placed under medical supervision and given first aid. The bodies of the deceased were also recovered and sent to Gaurikund for legal formalities. He informed that the deceased have been identified as 18-year-old Nitin Kumar and Chandrashekhar, both from Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir who were working as palanquin carriers. One person remains missing and efforts to locate him are ongoing, the SP said. The injured people include Sandeep Kumar and Nitin Manhas from Doda district, both working as palanquin bearers and Akash Chitriya from Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
Besides this, one woman also sustained minor injuries. Konde said that the police were gathering complete information on the identity and addresses of all affected individuals. He also informed that despite the tragic incident, bridle path to Kedarnath, including the landslide-hit Junglechatti section, was cleared and made safe for movement by the afternoon. Police personnel have been deployed at the site to ensure the safety and regulation of pilgrim movement.
The SP has urged all pilgrims and support staff to travel with caution, especially in areas marked as vulnerable. He advised avoiding upward travel from Gaurikund after afternoon hours due to frequent rainfall, which has been reported daily in Kedarnath and surrounding areas. It is important to note that just two days ago, a similar weather-induced incident on the same route had also resulted in a fatality. The administration continues to appeal to all visitors to check weather updates, follow safety instructions and reach out to the nearest help centre or helpline in case of emergencies.
