Dehradun, Aug 16: The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has recovered three bodies from the Kedarnath trek route, which was severely damaged by heavy rainfall on July 31. Over 20 people remain missing, according to officials.
The SDRF recovered the bodies on Thursday following reports from labourers working on the repair of the trek route. SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra confirmed that the bodies were found near Lincholi, buried under debris. The victims include Krishna Patel and Sumit Shukla from Ghaziabad, with the third individual’s identity still being verified.
“We faced significant challenges during the recovery process, including difficult weather conditions that prevented airlifting the bodies,” said Rajwar, the Rudraprayag district disaster management officer. “The bodies were eventually transported to Bhimbali helipad, but due to poor weather, we couldn’t complete the airlift.”
Restoration Efforts
Following Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s directive, extensive repair work began on August 7. Around 260 labourers have been engaged in fixing damages at 29 locations along the 19 km trek route. The Rudraprayag district administration has successfully restored pedestrian movement, with pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana managing to reach Kedarnath Dham using the repaired route.
“The trek route was severely damaged, and we have worked swiftly to repair it and ensure pilgrims’ safety,” said a government press release. “Except for a few locations, the route is now passable, and we have deployed security personnel to assist pilgrims.”
As of now, approximately 1.5 lakh out of the four lakh state government employees are female, with around five lakh women believed to be employed in the private sector. The Kedarnath Yatra, which attracts thousands of devotees annually, has seen around 10.93 lakh visitors this year.
On August 6, CM Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas and reviewed the ongoing relief and rescue operations. The government had earlier reported that nearly 12,500 pilgrims had been rescued since May 31.
Efforts are underway to resume the Kedarnath Yatra within two weeks. The shrine, located at nearly 3,500 meters above sea level near the Mandakini River, was previously devastated by flash floods in 2013, which caused significant damage to the area.
“We are making every effort to ensure that the yatra can resume as soon as possible while maintaining safety and addressing the needs of the affected individuals,” said a government official.
With the death toll now confirmed at seven and 22 individuals still missing, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and are working on identifying the recovered bodies. The search and repair operations are ongoing, with additional personnel and resources being deployed as needed.