Uttarakhand : Kedarnath flood 2013

India News: Braving hostile weather and treacherous terrain, over 1000 pilgrims are camping in Guptkashi in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district after getting stranded on their way back from Kedarnath.

Guptkashi is 39 km from Kedarnath where the maximum numbers of pilgrims are feared dead. The pilgrims are walking on foot back from August Muni ashram, Ukhimath and have to climb further up to Fata which has a helipad from where they can be airlifted.

Delay in restoring power and communication lines would throw rescue effort haywire.
On Monday, a day after the tragedy, the weather was clear in Kedarnath.

The state government should have arranged for maximum sorties from Fata and Gauri Kund to evacuate people but it did not happen. There is an urgent need of doctors and paramedical staff, all the health facilities have shut down.