17,000 evacuated from disaster-affected areas in Uttarakhand: CM Dhami

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], August 4 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sunday, that around 17,000 people have been evacuated so far from the disaster-affected areas in the state, and affirmed that relief and rescue operations are underway.
Stating that the evacuation of pilgrims is almost complete, CM Dhami said that efforts are underway to restore bridges, electricity and telecommunication lines.
"The work of evacuating the pilgrims is almost complete. About 17, 000 people have been evacuated. Our effort is to restore the bridges that have been washed away, restore electricity and telecommunication lines. Our entire administration is working for restoration. Our commissioner will play the role of a nodal officer. The departmental secretary will camp there and keep an eye on the situation," Dhami told ANI.
The Chief Minister has been monitoring the relief and rescue operations in Kedarghati for the last 72 hours, informed a press release on Tuesday.
As part of the rescue operation, around 400 passengers were sent from Kedarnath to Lincholi, while, 110 passengers sent on the Chaumasi track reached Chaumasi safely. Further efforts are being made continuously to rescue the passengers stranded on the Kedarnath Yatra route.
Speaking on the rescue operation in Kedar, VK Suman, the Secretary of Uttarakhand's Disaster Management, said the situation is normal, adding that a total of 9,977 people have been rescued so far, while 17 people have died.
"The situation is normal...A total of 9,977 people have been rescued...The number of helicopters to carry out rescue operations have been increased...17 people have died in the incident, out of which only two people died on the Kedarnath Yatra route...Everyone will be rescued...Indian army personnel have also been deployed to carry out rescue operations...The construction of a temporary bridge in Sonprayag has started," Suman said.
The CEO of Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, Yogendra Singh, said that on the fourth day of the rescue operation, 373 passengers, local people and labourers stranded in Kedarnath Dham have been sent to Lincholi with the help of the NDRF, SDRF and other security forces, and all of them will be rescued by airlifting from Lincholi.
At the same time, 570 passengers, locals, and labourers are waiting to be airlifted at the Kedarnath helipad. Food packets, water bottles, fruits are being provided to all the people in Kedarnath by the District Administration, BKTC and Tirtha Purohit Samaj.
On the other hand, 110 passengers have been rescued by NDRF and SDRF from the Rambada Chaumasi track and taken to Chaumasi. Security forces on the track continuously provided food packets, water and medical treatment to the passengers. So far, more than 534 passengers and local people have been rescued from this route.
Meanwhile, in the last few days, the monsoon fury has triggered multiple flash floods, and landslides affecting several states of the country,
Over 300 people have lost their lives in massive landslides in Kerala's Wayanad. 47 people are missing in Himachal Pradesh following natural disasters triggered by heavy rain. (ANI)