The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Thursday evacuated over 700 pilgrims who were stuck on the Joshimath-Badrinath Highway that was blocked by a massive landslide. The pilgrims were on their way to Badrinath when the road was completely blocked even as river Alaknanda was choked by the debris of the landslide. The ITBP teams rushed to the spot following inputs that thousands of pilgrims including aged persons, women and children were stranded on the highway without any way to move ahead or return.
The ITBP team comprising mountaineers, medical representatives along with mountaineering rescue equipment rushed to the spot and prepared an alternative foot track for movement of the pilgrims. The paramilitary doctors also administered oxygen to some old women while being rescued to safer locations. “After five hours of relentless efforts, the ITBP was able to rescue more than 700 pilgrims. All rescued pilgrims were offered food, drinking water and medicines to the needy persons,” a paramilitary spokesperson said. The paramilitary also won accolades from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and the district administration for quick and successful rescue mission, the official added.