Army completes Kedarnath evac, focus now on Badrinath

June 25, 2013 01:27

The Indian Army has announced the completion of the Kedarnath evacuation.

The Army also stated that 1,000 pilgrims had been escorted to safety from Jungle Chatti, a remote hill with a treacherous terrain.

"Within 48 hours of establishing contact with 1,000 stranded pilgrims in the mountain folds around Jungle Chatti in the Kedar valley, the army evacuated all 1,000 by air and by foot," an army spokesperson said at Dehradun on Monday evening.

With more rain forecast in the region from Tuesday, rescuers are trying to evacuate the remaining 19,000 people stranded in three areas, including Badrinath.

With Kedarnath and Gaurikund region -- the epicentre of the destruction virtually cleared of pilgrims, authorities can focus on those who remain in Badrinath and Harsil. The local police reached Kedarnath and Gaurikund on Sunday and have started the process of identification of bodies.

The 5,000 pilgrims who remain in Badrinath have been put up in different hotels, as Army and ITBP personnel try to step up their operations to get them out of the area. Around 100 people remain in Gaurikund.

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