First persons to land in Kedarnath after the tragedy, made temporary helipad next to the temple and evacuated approximately 150 people
Rescue operation by Brij Mohan Bisht
On June 17, 2013 I was the first person along with Capt. Bhupendra Singh and Shri Yoginder Rana who went to Rambara at 1800 hrs. We had flown till Rambara in spite of the bad weather in Kedarnath. The fury of nature that we saw there really shivered our body. The crowded Rambara had swept away.
On June 18, we again flew to Kedarnath by 6:00 hours and rescued people from Garudachatti. Then we flew back to Kedarnath Temple, as many people were stuck there due to heavy water body at both sides of the temple. All the connecting bridges were swept away due to flood. There were some people next to the river who were unable to cross. We made temporary arrangements with logs to make the people cross. While crossing, we helped them as they were very scared, then we arranged a temporary helipad next to the temple and evacuated approximately 150 people.
Then on, every day we used to fly at 6:00 hrs. after having a cup of tea to rescue the stranded people. On June 19, we rescued people from Ghoda Padaw (Pony Stand) at Kedarnath. On June 20, we saw around 250 people sitting in a patch of Rambara. They didn’t have food, water shelter etc. since the day of devastation, and were in very bad condition. They were sitting next to the dead bodies. At this place it was very difficult to land due to less space. But Capt. Bhupendra Singh, along with Shri Yoginder Rana, managed to land. Shri Rana had made the place for landing the helicopters. As continuous operation of 4 hours with 4 helicopters, we rescued all the victims.
By evening of June 20, we were trying to find out a place for landing in Jungle Chatti, but failed to get the suitable place, as more than thousand of sufferers were there. That evening we met Wing Commodore Nikhil Naidu, as he had landed at Pinnacle helipad with ALH helicopter. We requested him if it is possible he may winch down at Jungle Chatti we can make a suitable place for landing the helicopters. He took permission from his seniors regarding winching down us at Jungle Chatti. Finally, on June 21 morning, they winched down us at Jungle Chatti. We were the first civilians who had done this in the Indian history. June 22 was a rest day for me, as on June 21 I hardly managed to escape from accident of Prabhatam Helicopter at Jungle Chatti.
From June 23 to July 16, I dropped ration in villages Ranasi, Gaundar, Byunkhi, Talla Jal, Malla Jal, Chaumasi, Triyugi Narayan, Gauri Village, Tosi, Kotma, Kalimath, and a medical team in Bangar.
Presently, I am working with Pinnacle Air Pvt Ltd. as GM Operation. Prior to this tragedy, I have also rescued a foreigner by Helicopter from Arwatal at an altitude of 16500 Ft in 2010. I Rescued people from Ghangaria, Govindghat and Joshimath by Helicopter in 2010. In 2012 also, I rescued people from Okhimath.
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