Char-dham yatra: SDRF helps 1,247 pilgrims on Kedarnath, Badrinath route

DEHRADUN: Since the start of Char Dham yatra this year, the State Disaster Response Force has helped 1,247 pilgrims and taken them to safe locations. Most of these pilgrims were people who fell ill, injured or unable to continue the pilgrimage due to fatigue. Coming to their rescue, the SDRF teams safely took them to hospitals or nearby residential accommodations.

On the Kedarnath route, the SDRF came to the rescue of 791 pilgrims while on Badrinath route, it helped 456 devotees.

SDRF PRO Vijay Prasad said there have been instances when choppers have been used to take pilgrims to hospital. Citing an example, he said, "Madhya Pradesh resident Shanti Devi suffered major problem due to lack of oxygen in the higher reaches. On April 10, she was carried from Choti Lincholi to Badi Lincholi on a stretcher. From Lincholi, she was brought to Guptakashi in a helicopter."

Prasad did not fail to mention that on several occasions, SDRF personnel had carried pilgrims on stretchers for long distances on the tough terrains. The SRDF team not only provided the medical assistance to such pilgrims but also took them from one location to another in case of emergency.

At present, about 200 SDRF personnel are deployed on various routes of the Char Dham yatra. The number is likely to go up further as 73 personnel, who completed their training at ATC Haridwar, recently joined the specialized force. After posting in the plains, these new members would be deployed in the higher reaches of the Himalayan state.

SDRF was created in October 9, 2013, following the mid-June calamity in which thousands of pilgrims were killed. Policemen under the age of 45 year, who clear the medical test and training are included in the specialized force. The selected personnel are provided training by members of National Disaster Response Force. 

TOI