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New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Kedarnath Yatra halted after landslide near Sonprayag; rescue ops underway, Yamunotri route still blocked
DEHRADUN: The vital Kedarnath Dham Yatra, a backbone of Uttarakhand's economy, has been temporarily suspended following a massive landslide near Sonprayag in Rudraprayag district. The decision was made on Thursday after heavy rainfall triggered a significant landslide at Munkatia, completely blocking the road to the revered Himalayan temple. Police sources confirmed that the Munkatia sliding zone was inundated with a large volume of debris and stones, rendering the route impassable and forcing authorities to halt the pilgrimage. "Some pilgrims returning from Gaurikund were trapped in the sliding zone, but SDRF personnel rescued them and brought them safely to Sonprayag," said Arpan Yaduvanshi, Commandant of the State Disaster Response Force. "As a precautionary measure, traffic on this route has been stopped for now." Commandant Yaduvanshi further confirmed the swift rescue operation: "Around 40 pilgrims stranded in the Sonprayag landslide area while returning from Shri Kedarnath Dham were safely evacuated by SDRF. More than 40 pilgrims had been stranded since approximately 10 PM last night after debris suddenly fell near Sonprayag on the way from Kedarnath Dham." Meanwhile, the Yamunotri Highway remains closed beyond Silai Band for the fourth consecutive day following a cloudburst incident. While pedestrian movement is possible, it remains precarious due to ongoing risks. On Wednesday, approximately 254 passengers stranded between Syanchatti and Jankichatti were safely evacuated. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with NDRF utilizing sniffer dogs to locate seven people who are still missing after the incident.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- New Indian Express
11 feared dead after vehicle carrying pilgrims from Udaipur plunges into Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand
DEHRADUN: A family of pilgrims from Udaipur, Rajasthan, on a Char Dham Yatra met with tragedy on Thursday morning when their Tempo Traveller lost control and plunged into the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district. Initial reports suggest that at least 11 people are feared dead in the horrific incident, though only two bodies have been recovered so far. The vehicle, reportedly carrying 17 members of the same family, was completely submerged in the fast-flowing Alaknanda, making rescue operations extremely challenging due to the strong currents, officials from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said. SDRF divers, along with police and district administration teams, have launched extensive relief and rescue operations to retrieve the missing and those feared trapped. SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi confirmed the details to TNIE, 'Around 7:30 am on Thursday, near Ghoolteer on the Rishikesh–Badrinath Highway in Rudraprayag district, a Tempo Traveller lost control and plunged directly into the Alaknanda River. All 17 occupants of the vehicle were from the same family, hailing from Udaipur, Rajasthan, and were on a pilgrimage. Upon receiving news of the accident, teams from the police, SDRF, and district administration swiftly arrived at the scene and launched a rescue operation with the assistance of divers.'
Hans India
15-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
SDRF recovers all seven bodies from U'Khand helicopter crash site
Rudraprayag: A team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached the helicopter crash site in Rudraprayag's Gaurikund area in Uttarakhand and recovered all seven charred bodies. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local police were also involved in the rescue operations. According to rescue officials, the helicopter was completely destroyed by fire on impact. All seven people on board a helicopter en route from Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi were killed when the chopper crashed and went up in flames in a forested area near Gaurikund early Sunday morning. Among the deceased was a 23-month-old child. The ill-fated aircraft, a Bell 407 with registration VT-BKA, operated by Aryan Aviation, was flying on the sector 'Shri Kedarnath ji - Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi' when it crashed during its brief 10-minute flight. The accident took place around 5.20 a.m. in a densely wooded zone between Gaurikund and Sonprayag, specifically in the remote area of Gauri Mai Khark. As soon as the incident was reported, rescue teams were immediately dispatched under the direction of SDRF commander Arpan Yaduvanshi. "The SDRF team reached the site of incident Jorsi (above Gaurikund) -- Crashed helicopter completely burnt, all 7 bodies recovered by rescue team. SDRF, NDRF and District Police engaged in rescue work," read a post from the SDRF on X. A statement from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) confirmed that the victims included six pilgrims -- five adults and an infant -- belonging to different states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Those who lost their lives in the crash have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan, a pilot from Jaipur; Vikram Rawat, an employee of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC); Vinod Devi and her granddaughter Trushti Singh, pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh; and a family of three from Maharashtra -- Rajkumar Jaiswal, his wife Shradha Jaiswal, and their daughter Kashi Jaiswal. In response to the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken precautionary steps by reducing the frequency of helicopter services to Char Dham. The agency is also conducting enhanced surveillance of helicopter operations in the region and is reviewing all procedures for potential safety upgrades. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has been tasked with investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest that poor visibility and harsh weather conditions in the mountainous terrain played a critical role in the accident. Despite the difficult terrain and thick forest cover at the crash location, rescue and relief operations are being conducted at full scale. Teams from the NDRF and SDRF are continuing efforts in the challenging conditions to ensure the complete recovery of mortal remains and evidence. The tragic crash has once again raised concerns about the safety of helicopter operations in Uttarakhand's treacherous high-altitude zones, particularly during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
U'khand SDRF conquers unclimbed Nilapani Peak
Dehradun: A 20-member mountaineering team from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) scaled the previously unclimbed Nilapani Peak , standing at 6,054m, in the remote Nelang Valley of Uttarkashi district . SDRF said that these expeditions are part of the govt's commitment to promoting adventure sports and tourism in the state's rich Himalayan landscapes and mountain ranges. The expedition, flagged off by SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi on April 5, reached the summit on Friday, marking a major milestone in the force's high-altitude operational capabilities. Yaduvanshi commended the "discipline and devotion" shown throughout the mission. He added that the SDRF plans to undertake further mountaineering and skill development expeditions across various Himalayan regions in Aug and Sept, aiming to put Uttarakhand's adventure potential on the global map. Uttarakhand DGP Deepam Seth called the achievement "a proud moment for the Uttarakhand Police," while applauding the team for their courage and dedication. IG SDRF Arun Mohan Joshi praised the team's preparedness and cohesion, saying that the ascent demonstrated SDRF's ability to perform "not just during disasters, but in every circumstance." The expedition was led by SI Manoj Rawat, with deputy leader Sachin Rawat, climbing leader Virendra Kala, communications specialist Manoj Kumar, fireman Ravi Chauhan, and 15 other members forming the core team. Manoj Rawat described the climb as "a test of courage, endurance, and teamwork," highlighting challenges such as extreme altitude, blizzards, and oxygen shortages. He credited the team's success to their "unwavering resolve" in overcoming each challenge.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
U'khand SDRF bags second position in national combat, search & rescue competition
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand police's State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) secured the second place in the inaugural national combat search and rescue (CSSR) competition, organised by the National Disaster Response Force ( ). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Conducted across four zones on March 17 and 18, the competition featured 30 SDRF teams from various states. The top eight teams from each zone advanced to the final round, which took place from April 21 to 23 at the 8th Battalion of the NDRF in Ghaziabad. The event was held in the presence of NDRF director general Piyush Anand. Himachal Pradesh SDRF won the first position, while Andhra Pradesh SDRF finished third. SDRF commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said the team was awarded a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 75,000 by the NDRF director general. "The CSSR event aimed to develop disaster-management capabilities, foster inter-state collaboration, and strengthen skills for rapid, effective emergency response," Yaduvanshi added.
