Devastation, destruction and totally ravaged sites. Downpour and cloud burst have together wiped out signs of Rambara and Saunprayag's main markets and washed away several bridges and buildings, changing outline of the area. Death toll touched 54 mark, while injured persons’ toll reached 44 and 339 buildings collapsed. So far, 17 pilgrims have been reported missing.
Figure of stranded persons swelled to 62,790, including 25,000 in Kedarnath, 27,040 in Chamoli and 9,850 in Uttarkashi and 900 in Tehri. The rains have caused heavy devastation around the Kedarnath temple and damaged its boundary at a side. Around 20 houses disappeared from the scene at Silli and Vijay Nagar. Debris caused by destruction damaged 100 other houses in Vijay Nagar area.
According to figures given by Control Room set up at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) of Disaster Mitigation and Management Center (DMMC), A total of 54 deaths have been reported from disaster-affected areas. There is idea about exact figure of casualties caused by the disaster. Senior officials, who air surveyed Kedarnath temple area, are shaken from the ravaged sights. Garhwal commissioner Subardhan said, “Nothing is visible at Rambara.” The officials rescued several stranded pilgrims. Senior officials, including chief secretary Subhash Kumar and director general of police (DGP) Satyavrat, expressed concern over the police personnel who were deployed at Gaurikund and Rambara police outpost.
Asked whether they had any idea about the locations of the police personnel were posted in tough terrains, including Rambara police outpost and Jungle Chatti Chowki, they said, “No comment.” The officials said that the efforts were on to trace them.
A platoon of Indian Reserve Battalion that left for Kedarnath to rescue the stranded persons has got stranded at Gaurikund. Police personnel deployed at Kedarnath police station took shelter at Baba Ashram in Garun Chatti. They are safe, claimed police disaster relief control room.
A helicopter has been allocated to district magistrate Chamoli for carrying out rescue operation at a pace. According to officials, 400 pilgrims might be stranded in Kedarnath. Starting the operation in the morning, the stranded passengers would be shifted to different safer places.
If the officials are to be believed, roads are badly damaged and rescue teams are finding it difficult to ensure connectivity by laying temporary arrangements on the damaged patches. Some deaths have been from Madkot valley of Pithoragarh in Kumaon division. The rain caused heavy damage to the roads in this district. Several houses collapsed and one camp each of ITBP and Border Road organisation suffered complete damage. Police teams have been sent with satellite phones and rescue kits to the sites in order to carry out rescue operation at a good pace.