Tragically, at least three pilgrims have been killed and eight others have been injured after a landslide occurred in Chidwasa on Uttrakhand’s Gaurikund-Kedarnath Yatra Route on the morning of Sunday, July 22. The three fallen victims were identified as Kishore Arun Parata (31 years), Sunil Nahadev Kale (24 years) and Anurag Bisht. The two were from Maharashtra while Anurag Bisht was from Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand.
SRDF Took 8 Injured Pilgrims To The Hospital
Upon the accident, the SRDF rescue team was immediately called to the site and immediate action was taken. The eight individuals who sustained injuries in the accident were evacuated and taken to a hospital. The SRDF (State Disaster Response Force) team also handed over the three dead bodies to the police upon reaching the site of the accident. The pilgrims were traveling from Gaurikund to the Kedarnath Dham when the landslide happened.
CM Pushkar Singh Dham Expressed Grief Over The Accident
Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to platform ‘X’ and took cognizance of the accident and expressed his grief over the incident. He also reported that the three deaths and further injuries happened due to debris and heavy stones falling from the hill near the Kedarnath Yatra Route. Pushkar Singh Dhami claimed that he is in touch with the officials and has given instructions in regard to the treatment of the injured individuals.
Intermittent Rainfall In Uttrakhand
The district administration has requested pilgrims and travelers to stay safe in place for the time being. Uttarakhand has been recently experiencing intermittent rains. Earlier, on July 10, on the hill near the Patal Ganga Langsi tunnel on the Badrinath National Highway, the road was blocked due to heavy rains. Then, on July 19, the Tanakpur Chmpawat National Highway was blocked due to debris triggered by a landslide. Kedarnath Yatra route is part of the Char Dham Yatra. The yatra began on May 10 this year and the journey holds a spiritual significance in Hinduism. According to spiritual beliefs, one should cover the entire yatra in a clockwise direction. Hence, beginning from Yamunotri, then towards Gangotri onto Kedarnath, finally halting at Badrinath.
केदारनाथ यात्रा मार्ग के पास पहाड़ी से मलबा व भारी पत्थर गिरने से कुछ यात्रियों के हताहत होने का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है। घटनास्थल पर राहत एवं बचाव कार्य जारी है, इस सम्बन्ध में निरंतर अधिकारियों के संपर्क में हूं। हादसे में घायल हुए लोगों को त्वरित रूप से बेहतर उपचार उपलब्ध…
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) July 21, 2024