Hoshiarpur - The bodies of four more pilgrims trapped in the landslide on the Kedarnath Dham Yatra route in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand were recovered on Tuesday morning, taking the death toll to five today. While three others have been pulled out in an injured condition. The dead and injured include pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat as well as neighboring country Nepal.

Additional District Magistrate of Rudraprayag Shyam Singh Rana said that he had received information that people were coming towards Sonprayag in the recent landslide affected area towards Gaurikund, about 01 km from Sonprayag under Kotwali Sonprayag area. Some passengers are buried under the debris. On receiving the information, the police, administration, SDRF, NDRF and DDRF launched a joint rescue operation.

During the operation late at night, three people were pulled out in an injured condition, while one was found unconscious, who was declared dead by the doctors. He said that due to bad weather and continuous debris and stones during the night, the rescue teams faced difficulties in their work and the rescue operation had to be stopped for hours on Tuesday. 3 people (2 women and 1 man) were found unconscious at this place, who were declared dead by the doctors.

He told that during the ongoing rescue operation, after some time the rescue team found another woman unconscious, who was declared dead by the doctors. In this way the death toll in this accident has gone up to 05. He told that the deceased have been identified as Gopal son Bhaktram, resident of Jijoda, Post Rajod, District Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, age 50 years, Durgabai Khapad wife Sagan Lal, resident Janab. Nepavali, District Ghat, Madhya Pradesh, age 50, Titli Devi wife Rajendra Mandal, resident of village Vaidehi, District Dhanwa, Nepal, age 70 years, Bharat Bhai Nirlal Patel son Nirlal Patel, resident A 301, Sardar Palace Karawal Nagar, Khatodara, Surat, Gujarat, age 52 years and Samanabai wife Shalak Ram, resident Jhijora, District Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, age 50 years, Additional District Magistrate Rana said that apart from this, Jeevchh Tiwari son Ramcharit, resident Dhanwa, Nepal, age 60 years, Manpreet Singh son Kashmir Singh resident West Bengal age 30 years and Chhaganlal son Bhakt Ram age 45 years resident Rajot, District Dhar, Madhya Pradesh have been rescued in injured condition. Who are undergoing treatment.

District Disaster Management Officer of Rudraprayag Nandan Singh Rajwar said that in view of the safety of passengers at the district police level, the traffic was completely closed after 6.30 pm. This accident happened with those people who had gone from Gaurikund to Sonprayag before this time. He said that the closed road has been opened for pedestrians. Travelers are being sent safely to Sonprayag under the supervision of security forces.