As many as 52 people from Jharkhand stranded at different locations in Uttarakhand have been rescued by the team led by Civil Aviation Secretary Sajal Chakraverty in the last two days. A seven-member team, including Chakraverty had left for Uttarakhand following instructions by Governor Syed Ahmed.
“A six-member team led by Manish Garg from Jharkhand was also rescued by us from Joshimath today. As the rain recedes we will immediately leave from Gochar where Sarangi family having 9 adults and one child will be taken to Joshimath,” said Chakraverty. “We have saved at least 52 people in the last two days,” he added.
Manish Garg, his wife and children were stranded at Bharat Sevashram Ashram Dharamshala in Badrinath since the day of the disaster. They were unable to move because the road links between Badrinath and the rest of the country had caved in under the impact of the disaster. All of them were rescued by the chopper team from Jharkhand.
Chakraverty went on board an Army helicopter as all the seats of their helicopter were occupied by the ladies to be rescued. “Right now, all the seats in our helicopter are occupied by the ladies who are waiting to fly to Joshimath after the rain recedes. We are giving preference to the ladies and children,” he said.
As the flying hours of Bell- 407 helicopter on which they flew to Sahastradhara via Pantnagar and Dehradun were exhausted and the copter was unable to fly at high altitudes, they ordered another helicopter of Jindal which was available in Joshimath.
According to Chakraverty, they are getting full co-operation by the Uttarakhand government where at least 15 private helicopters from all over the country are being operated. “We are being provided all support from the people, from the NGOs and charitable organisations at Saharstradhara and arrangements of food and refreshment are being taken care of by them,” added Chakraverty.
Thanking media, Chakraverty said they were being contacted by the phone numbers of the rescue team which was published in the local newspapers by their relatives. “Due to rain, the rescue team could not reach Sahastradhara on Friday, but since Saturday onwards, as the phone numbers were flashed in the newspapers, people started calling us,” he added.
“We are receiving calls from the family and friends of the stranded people from Jharkhand and also from those who are stranded in various locations in the state. “On the basis of those phone calls we are locating them,” added Chakraverty.
In addition to that some of them have also sent text messages on our mobile phones. The rescue operations would continue till all the stranded people are taken out from there. “The bad weather had caused disturbance for some time on Sunday. But, it was resumed soon after the weather conditions improved,” said Chakraverty.
The helicopter was sent to co-operate with the Uttarakhand government in the ongoing rescue operations after the cloudburst in the State while the seven-member team was supposed to co-ordinate and trace out the missing persons from Jharkhand and provide all possible help and support to them.
The team led by senior IAS officer Sajal Chakravorty had left for Uttarakhand in a chopper to rescue the pilgrims and tourists on Friday. Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed had already announced Rs 5 crore financial aid for relief and rehabilitation of the victims.