Uttarakhand: Army's relentless rescue efforts in Jungle Chatti

Army men brave the inhospitable terrains to make way for rescue operations. Over 60 helicopters of the Army and Air Force have been pressed into service in what is being considered as the biggest rescue operation launched by the armed forces. There are warnings of rains to returning to the state either on Sunday or Monday.

Army men bring a batch of pilgrims to safety in Jungle Chatti.

On Saturday, nearly 10,000 people were evacuated, with at least 2,000 being rescued by the Army from critical areas including Jungle Chatti, in mountains between Gaurikund and Rambara in Kedarnath.

The rescue operations in the area is a big challenge for the Army given the mountainous terrains. It is extremely inhospitable, and is totally cut off. Choppers find it difficult to land, says the Army.

An elderly pilgrim is assisted by the Army to alight from a chopper.

The focus of operations is on Jungle Chatti and Kedarnath, where several people are stuck. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to locate survivors in remote areas that still remain inaccessible.

An elderly pilgrim sits inside an Army relief camp after being rescued.

Rescue operations resumed in Uttarakhand after they were suspended Sunday morning due to bad weather.

Stranded pilgrims are rescued by the Army in the flood-ravaged areas of Jungle Chatti in Kedar Valley.

Sorties are being conducted in the affected areas to bring the stranded back to safety. While 8,000 pilgrims are awaiting help in the holy town of Badrinath, 1,000 more are stuck in Pithorgarh. Nearly 100 others are stranded at Hemkund Sahib.

A group of rescued pilgrims in conversation with Army men inside an Army camp.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had on Saturday said that the casualty figures are certainly far higher and could easily touch the one thousand mark.