Posted on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 03:40 am:

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It was a "tsunami" from the sky as trillions of litres of rainwater ate up vast chunks of Uttarakhand — mainly in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts — devastating it completely, leaving thousands stranded and many more missing. While the official toll was 102, it was nowhere near reality but proper quantification could not be made due to lack of access to remote areas.

Officials said the 116 km of areas between Rudraprayag and Kedarnath was the worst affec­ted by landslides. The main damage was caused by 8-10 feet high floods from Gandhi Sarovar (3 km from Kedarnath, at a higher altitude) at Chaurabari Glacier as it charged down at Rambara (a hamlet, 7 km before Kedarnath), destroying houses and other buildings, vehicles and shops along the road and leaving a large volume of silt.

"The Kedarnath town has been reduced to debris. Though relief and rescue work is on in full swing, it will take one year to restart the Char Dham Yatra," state Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said. Officials said that during an aerial survey on Wednesday morning, the houses and other buildings in the area could not even be seen. "It is feared that most of the houses were destroyed, as the area remains completely inundated," an official said. The CM claimed that at least 500 roads and over 170 bridges were completely wiped out by the landslides, making rescue operations there nearly impossible by road.

Roshan Trivedi, one of the priests of Kedarnath Temple, rescued by helicopter from the valley to Rishikesh, told reporters he has never witnessed such devastation in the 16 years he has been worshipping there. "I can't say anything except that there were thousands of people that day when Gandhi Sarovar lake burst from its sea­ms and everything from people to houses got washed away."

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Posted on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 03:32 am:

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Amid fears of thousands left dead in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, relief and rescue operations were intensified today with eight additional IAF choppers pressed into service to evacuate stranded people in Kedarnath which has suffered massive damage in flash floods and cloudbursts.

The State Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre has said that casualties in the affected areas may run into thousands with about 90 'dharamashalas' (rest houses for pilgrims) swept away in the flash floods.

However, the toll has been kept officially at 150.

So far, over 15,000 people stranded in Kedarnath and Govindghat on way to Hemkund Sahib have been evacuated to Joshimath relief camps through air and road routes, IG police R S Meena told PTI.

Authorities are focusing on rescuing more stranded people in worst-hit areas. "Apart from the 12 helicopters already engaged in rescue operations in affected areas, eight more have been roped in for the purpose to step up the process," Meena said.

Rescue efforts are being concentrated as of now on Kedarnath shrine and its adjoining areas in Rudraprayag district which has been the worst hit with about 90 dharamshalas in the temple area, where pilgrims were staying. having been swept away by the flood waters, he said.

Two helicopters have flown from Dehradun to evacuate stranded people.

The Army has also deployed its mountain rescue teams to evacuate the pilgrims. A large number of places are still inaccessible due to heavy flooding in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts and it is impossible to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the calamity, the IG said.

Scores of villages remain under water and cannot be tracked.

Hence there is uncertainty about the casualties caused, he said, adding the devastation is massive.

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Posted on Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 03:02 am:

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In the worst ever natural calamity that struck Uttarakhand, 4 Dhaam Yaatra area, Rudra Prayag, Gupt Prayag, Uttar Kashi & surrounding areas, thousands of people have been washed away. Many dead bodies are still in the vicinity of Kedarnath temple. Roads are blocked & cracked. Cloud burst, incessant rains & landslides have created big havoc. Gouri Kund is washed away. Many hotels in the area along with people in them are missing. 4,500 mules (khacchhar) serve devotees. Each mule has one attendee. None of them are found. Markets are washed out with people. The number of the dead & missing may cross thousands as Char Dhaam yaatra was on.

Indian Army immediately plunged into the rescue operations braving the most adverse climatic conditions and providing relief work. Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Swayamsevaks, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other organizations too joined hands with Army in rescue operations and started providing quick relief works at Uttarakhand. VHP's Hindu Help Line is actively working helping thousands of people

Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh has initiated a new forum, 'Uttaranchal Daivee Aapada Peedith Sahayata Samiti' and called for nationwide help for the thousands of devotees, other local civilians stranded at parts of Uttarakhand due to unprecedented flood. RSS also appeals to the citizens of the country to be compassionate and proactive in helping the thousands of hapless devotees and fellow citizens in this most important hour of need.

Contributions can be sent to

'Uttaranchal Daivee Aapada Peedith Sahayata Samiti'

SBI A/c No : 31156574681

Branch : SBI Main Branch, Dehradun

IFC Code : SBIN0000630



For other forms of aid and Support, Contact:

Bhavoorao Deoras Kunj
#15, Tilak Marg, Dehradun,
Uttaranchal- 248005
Phone: 0135-2725776, 2624689.

Common number:
Shri Laxmi Prasad ji- Prant Karyawah RSS 9412056755

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