Kedarnath Cloudburst: Four Ghaziabad Youths Missing, Devotees Stranded Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations

A cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath Dham has left many pilgrims stranded, prompting ongoing rescue operations. Rescue teams are tirelessly working to relocate people to safer areas. Amidst these efforts, four youths from Ghaziabad have been reported missing following the incident.

The missing youths, identified as Sumit Shukla, Krishna Patel, Mannu, and Chirag, were part of a group of five who had traveled from Khoda in Ghaziabad to Kedarnath via Haridwar. One of the group, Sachin, was rescued by a local team, but there has been no trace of the other four.

According to Sumit Shukla’s family, the rescued youth, Sachin, managed to inform them by phone that the four youths were swept away during the cloudburst. A mule handler managed to save Sachin by grabbing his hand, after which he was brought to safety by the rescue team early in the morning.

Mandakini River Overflows

An officer from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) involved in the relief operations stated, "Our team in Sonprayag has been engaged in rescue efforts. The Mandakini River overflowed on Wednesday night, accompanied by heavy rainfall, which caused a route to be blocked. Overnight, we evacuated travelers to safer locations and identified alternative routes for their safe passage. So far, we have rescued 1,079 travelers, including 34 women and 17 children. The rescue operation is proceeding smoothly."

Pilgrims Stranded in Lincholi

Many pilgrims are stranded along the Kedarnath Yatra route and in Lincholi. Rescue operations are underway to assist these individuals. Reports indicate that several people may have been swept away in Lincholi, Gaurikund, and Sonprayag, although the district administration has not confirmed these reports. Several shops located near the road by the Sonprayag bridge have been washed away. Multiple people are reported to be stranded in Gaurikund, and damaged routes are hindering vehicle movement in some areas.

The rescue operations continue, with authorities striving to ensure the safety of all affected individuals amidst challenging conditions.