Fifty five persons, including forensic and forest personnel of the special team which was sent to Guptkashi to dispose off the bodies in Kedarnath area, were shifted to Guptkashi on Tuesday. However, 10 police personnel, including Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) commandos, are still stranded there.
The personnel will be replaced with the fresh team on Wednesday. Now the team would work in rotation. The police have also decided to set up its base camp at Junglechatti area for where the operation of disposing off the bodies would be carried out. Director General of Police (DGP) Satyavrata said, “55 personnel, including forensic experts, officials from other departments who were part of the special team were shifted to Guptkashi. Now, we would set up our base camp in Junglechatti area and operation would be carried out in rotation.”
Moreover, sources said that five of the personnel, who took ill, were shifted to a private hospital. They were recuperating well. The special team landed in Kedar Valley around five-day ago. Ever since the team reached there, the weather condition turned extremely odd. Even the team ran short of eatables and food items could not be supplied to them.
The State Government pondered over shifting the team members on Saturday. A decision to this affect was taken on Monday evening. And finally, 55 personnel were shifted to Guptkashi from where five ailing ones were reportedly rushed to a hospital near Jolly Grant Airport.Talking to The Pioneer, Garhwal Commissioner Subardhan said that 20 people, including 10 PWD and 10 police personnel, are still stranded.