RUDRAPRAYAG (Uttarakhand), June 18:
A landslide on the trek route to the Kedarnath shrine left two palanquin carriers from Jammu and Kashmir dead and three others including a pilgrim from Gujarat injured on Wednesday, police said.
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As per J&K Police sources, the deceased were identified as Chander Shekhar, son of Chaman Lal, resident of Kharangal, tehsil Gandoh, district Doda and Nittan Manhas, son of Ravail Singh, resident of Zang Nala Jakyas, tehsil Gandoh, district Doda.
Both died in Jangal Chati, Tehsil Guft Kashi, District Ruderperyag, Uttrakhand.
The injured were identified as Nittan Singh, son of Manjeet Singh, resident of Zang Nalla Jakyas and Sandeep Kumar, resident of Phagsoo, tehsil Thathri
The dead and the injured were palanquin carriers.
One pilgrim named Akash Chitriya from Bhavnagar in Gujarat was also injured, the Uttarakhand police said.
The landslide occurred at 11.20 am near Junglechatti Ghat along the route, with boulders rolling down the hillside and hitting pilgrims, palanquins and porter operators, Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde said.
They fell into a gorge after being hit by the rubble of the landslide. Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rushed to the spot and launched a search and rescue operation, the SP said.
Police and SDRF personnel as well as locals had a tough time pulling out the dead as well as the injured out of the gorge with the help of ropes.
Two persons died on the spot while three others were injured. Two seriously injured men were referred to a health centre in Gaurikund, the SP said.
The movement of pilgrims along the route continues under police protection, Konde said. (PTI)
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