Dehradun. Returning from Delhi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami proceeded straight to the State Emergency Operations Centre at IT Park to scrutinise the ongoing rescue and relief drive for trekkers and mountaineers marooned in Uttarakhand’s high‑altitude Himalayas. He demanded a real‑time briefing and ordered that the safe return of every stranded person be treated as the utmost priority.
Scale of the emergency
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman briefed the CM that a total of 179 trekkers and mountaineers have been reported missing while undertaking high‑altitude treks across the state. Of these, 136 are in Uttarkashi and 43 are in the Pindari region of Bageshwar.
Current rescue progress in Uttarkashi
The CM examined the Uttarkashi operation in detail. Officials confirmed that 40 of the 136 stranded individuals have already been evacuated safely. Another 40 have opted to continue their trek and have declined rescue for now. The remaining trekkers will be flown out as soon as weather permits and the situation stabilises.
Dhami stressed that the safety of trekkers, mountaineers and their porters must remain the top priority. He instructed officials to mobilise additional resources instantly if required and to maintain seamless coordination among all agencies involved.
Helicopter assets and medical readiness
The Chief Minister was informed that eight helicopters have been deployed for the operation. He ordered that these aerial assets be utilised without delay whenever the need arises. Furthermore, a helicopter‑ambulance has been placed on standby to deliver immediate medical aid to anyone who may require it during the rescue.
Ground coordination with Uttarkashi officials
Dhami also held a tele‑conference with the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi to gauge on‑ground conditions. The DM reported that, given the prevailing weather, the evacuation of the remaining trekkers will resume at 06:00 hrs on Monday. The CM directed that all necessary logistical support be extended to the rescue teams and that the operation be continuously monitored.
Broader safety outlook
He reiterated that safeguarding residents, tourists, pilgrims and trekkers is a paramount concern for the state government. All District Magistrates and relevant departments have been instructed to keep a vigilant watch over vulnerable zones and to launch immediate relief and rescue actions whenever emergencies arise.
Review of Char Dham Yatra arrangements
During the same meeting, the CM evaluated the infrastructure and services provided for the Char Dham pilgrimage. He examined facilities, safety measures, cleanliness and other amenities at the shrines and along the routes, urging officials to keep raising standards.
Special emphasis was placed on instituting a permanent solid‑waste management system at major religious and tourist sites, including the Char Dham. Dhami highlighted the need for a long‑term waste‑handling plan that anticipates future pilgrim volumes.
He called for a coordinated approach that ensures cleanliness, environmental protection and pilgrim convenience, aiming to make Uttarakhand’s pilgrimage and tourism framework more organised, sustainable and respectful of its cultural and natural heritage.
Final directives
The CM demanded that disaster‑response mechanisms remain swift and that no compromise be made on safety during rescue missions. Continuous monitoring of weather conditions and high alert status for administration, police, SDRF and other agencies in vulnerable areas were reaffirmed.
Present at the briefing were Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swarup, along with senior officials from the Disaster Management Department and related agencies.
