Kedarnath landslide: Uttarakhand govt delivers animal fodder by helicopter for mules, horses stranded on travel routes

Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], August 4 (ANI): On the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, animal fodder was delivered through helicopter for the horses and mules stranded on the travel routes in the disaster-affected areas of the state.
According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Veterinary Department has delivered four and a half tonnes of animal fodder via helicopter for the horses and mules stranded on the travel routes on Sunday.
Chief Veterinary Officer Ashish Rawat said that four and a half tonnes of animal fodder have been delivered so far at the Cheerbasa helipad for the animal keepers in the Gaurikund area. Horse and mule operators can get animal feed by showing their animal licences or other documents to the administration team at the Cheerbasa helipad.
Earlier, CM Dhami 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.
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)