State Government has urged the Ministry of Defence to deploy one dozen helicopters including six MI-17 helicopters in order to carry relief works on war footing at disaster- hit areas.
Several teams of officers and other ranks were already sent to the affected areas to save the lives of the pilgrims and locals, who faced the brunt of natural calamities, claimed GOC, Uttar Bharat Area, lt Gen NS Bawa in a Press conference held in Dehradun on Tuesday.
While informing about the steps initiated by the Uttarakhand Sub-Area, lt Gen Bawa said that every possible step would be initiated by the army authorities for carrying relief operations in the disaster hit areas in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand.
He said that around 500 stranded pilgrims were evacuated from Fatta by the army authorities on Tuesday and were provided food, shelter and life saving drugs. lt Gen Bawa claimed the number of sorties would certainly increase as one dozen choppers are likely to join the fleet of 12 helicopters on Wednesday thus would be proved extremely beneficial for saving the lives of pilgrims and villagers along Char Dham Yatra route.