Dehradun. After landing back from Delhi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami proceeded directly to the State Emergency Operations Centre at IT Park to scrutinise the ongoing relief and rescue drive for trekkers and mountaineers marooned in Uttarakhand’s high‑altitude Himalayas. He asked officials for a detailed briefing and insisted that the safe repatriation of every stranded individual be treated as the utmost priority.
Scale of the Emergency
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman reported that a total of 179 trekkers and mountaineers have been reported missing while attempting high‑altitude treks across several Himalayan zones. Of these, 136 are believed to be in Uttarkashi and 43 in the Pindari sector of Bageshwar.
Current Status in Uttarkashi
The briefing highlighted that, in Uttarkashi, 40 of the 136 stranded persons have already been evacuated safely. Another 40 have voluntarily declined evacuation, opting to continue their trek. The remaining individuals will be rescued as soon as weather conditions permit.
"The safety of trekkers, mountaineers and their porters is non‑negotiable," the Chief Minister emphasized, urging immediate mobilisation of any additional resources and seamless coordination among all agencies.
Helicopter Assets and Medical Support
- Eight helicopters have been allocated to the rescue mission.
- An air‑ambulance is kept on standby to deliver rapid medical aid wherever required.
CM Dhami ordered that these aerial assets be deployed without delay whenever the situation calls for it.
Operational Timeline
In a phone conversation with the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi, the CM learned that, given the prevailing weather, the next phase of evacuations is slated to resume at 06:00 hrs on Monday. He instructed officials to furnish rescue teams with all necessary logistics and to maintain constant monitoring of the operation.
Broader Safety Outlook
The Chief Minister reiterated that safeguarding residents, tourists, pilgrims and trekkers across Uttarakhand remains a top‑line agenda for the state government. He directed District Magistrates and relevant departments to keep a vigilant eye on vulnerable zones and to launch immediate relief actions at the first sign of an emergency.
Review of Char Dham Yatra Arrangements
During the same meeting, Dhami examined the infrastructure supporting the Char Dham pilgrimage. He took stock of facilities, safety protocols, cleanliness standards and other amenities along the sacred routes, urging continuous upgrades.
Special focus was placed on establishing a permanent solid‑waste management system at major religious and tourist sites, including the Char Dham. Recognising the surge in pilgrim numbers, the CM asked for a long‑term waste‑handling blueprint that anticipates future demands.
He called for an integrated approach that blends cleanliness, environmental stewardship and pilgrim convenience, ensuring that Uttarakhand’s spiritual heritage and natural beauty are preserved for generations.
Finally, the CM stressed that government machinery must respond swiftly during disasters, leaving no room for compromise on safety. Continuous weather monitoring and high alert status for administration, police, SDRF and other agencies in fragile areas were mandated.
Present at the meeting were Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swarup, and senior officials from the Disaster Management Department and allied agencies.
