17000 people evacuated; efforts underway to restore electricity, telecommunications: Uttarakhand CM

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], August 4 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday informed that approximately 17,000 people have been evacuated and efforts to restore electricity and telecommunication are underway in the ongoing rescue operation and restoration works in the disaster-affected areas.
Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami said, "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."
On the other hand, after 15 people lost their lives in the cloudburst and landslides along the Kedarnath Yatra route, teams from the Indian Air Force joined the rescue and relief operations with the NDRF, and the SDRF, for the stranded pilgrims.
NDRF and SDRF personnel rescued more than 1500 pilgrims and locals from the affected areas on Saturday. On the other side, the Animal Husbandry Department of Rudraprayag is sending animal feed in helicopters for the mules and horses who were struck after the landslide in the valley.
Dr Ashish Rawat, Chief Veterinary Officer of Rudraprayag, told ANI, "Due to the disaster on the Kedarnath route, there was a lot of damage mainly on the Sonprayag-Gaurikund route and due to the blockage in transportation, movement of goods from Sonprayag to Gaurikund has stopped."
"Since most of the mules and horses take shelter in Gaurikund and are still present there, there is a possibility of a food shortage for them in the future, because of which we are supplying animal feed through helicopters from here to Chirbasa Helipad," he added.
He added, "After this, horse and mule owners can go there and get animal feed for their animals. Our temporary veterinary hospital is working in Gaurikund. If any kind of veterinary treatment is required, our team is present there."
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said on Saturday that a total of 9,099 people stranded in different areas along the Kedarnath Yatra route have been rescued till now. A total of 7234 passengers have been rescued as of August 2. At the same time, on August 3, 1865, passengers were rescued and taken to safe places. A total of 9099 passengers have been rescued as of August 3. (ANI)