Watch: Landslide blocks Kedarnath route in Rudraprayag’s Chirbasa

Kedarnath route blocked by landslide in Rudraprayag's Chirbasa village

NEW DELHI: Around 1,500 pilgrims stranded on the Kedarnath route near Chirbasa were safely rescued and escorted to Gaurikund after a landslide blocked the route late Sunday night, officials said.The pilgrims were stranded around three kilometres from Gaurikund after a landslide hit the route near Chirbasa, news agency ANI reported.The Rudraprayag District Control Room (DCR) informed Sonprayag Police about the situation late on September 27, following which the SDRF Sonprayag team, led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Dimri, rushed to the spot.

Pilgrims carefully evacuated from landslide zonePrioritising the safety of the pilgrims, the rescue teams carefully assisted them across the affected stretch.

Around 1,500 pilgrims were brought safely to the other side of the landslide zone and escorted towards Gaurikund.The operation was carried out despite continued rockfall and the risk of further landslides in the area. Rescue personnel coordinated the movement of pilgrims to ensure they crossed the dangerous stretch safely.Joint teams complete rescue operationThe coordinated efforts of the SDRF, NDRF and DDRF helped ensure that all the stranded pilgrims were safely evacuated from the affected area.Officials said the rescue operation was successfully completed despite the challenging conditions at the site.