A lone mule trapped on an island formed on the Mandakini river at Sonprayag since June 16-17 was finally rescued after being first tranquilised and then rescued by helicopter. The flood and landslides in the Kedarnath Valley are feared to have killed thousands of mules which were employed for transporting pilgrims across the 14 km path from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.
During the first few days after being stranded on the island, the mule remained hungry and after a few days began to eat the bark of a tree which had also been carried by the river to the island. The lone mule faced heavy rains and starvation for a month on the small island. Sumit Aviation’s Captain Bhupendra and Captain Angad, technical expert Devendra, animal activists Kamna Pandey and volunteers of PFA and other organisations played a vital role in facilitating the rescue of this animal. The mule was carried in a chopper from Sonprayag to the Nala helipad. Attempts had been made in the past by the army, locals and volunteers to rescue this mule without success.