Over 400 people, including devotees stranded on the rain-damaged trek route to Kedarnath, have been evacuated and sent to Lincholi for airlifting, as the rescue operation continued into its fourth day on Sunday.

Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman reported that 350 passengers remain to be evacuated from Kedarnath and 50 from Lincholi. So far, more than 10,000 people have been relocated to safety. 

Suman noted that dense clouds over Kedarnath and nearby areas have hindered air rescue efforts. The Chinook helicopter provided by the Indian Air Force could not be deployed due to the weather, and the MI17 helicopter was only able to complete three flights, rescuing 60 people. Instead, five smaller helicopters have been utilized given the weather conditions.

In the morning, around 400 people were brought from Kedarnath to Lincholi on foot due to the adverse weather, and they were subsequently flown to Chardham and Sirsi helipads. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other agencies have also used alternative routes to evacuate individuals. 

By 5 pm on Sunday, 2,622 people had been airlifted from various points along the Kedarnath Yatra route—including Kedarnath, Lincholi, Bhimbali, and Gaurikund—to Chardham and Sirsi helipads. Additionally, 567 people were transported on foot from Bhimbali and Lincholi to Chaumasi Kalimath, and 7,185 individuals were moved from Gaurikund to Sonprayag. This brings the total number of rescued individuals over the past four days to 10,374.

Currently, 350 pilgrims remain stranded in Kedarnath and 50 in Lincholi, while all pilgrims have been evacuated from Gaurikund. Only local residents such as priests, shopkeepers, and those providing 'palki' and pony services are still in Kedarnath and Gaurikund; they will be evacuated if they wish to leave.

Arrangements for food, water, and accommodation have been made at Sonprayag, Sirsi, Chaumasi, Chardham helipad, and Kedarnath helipad. Following the chief minister’s instructions, the number of personnel involved in search and relief operations was increased from 882 to 1,160 on Sunday.

The Kedarnath trek route suffered severe damage from a cloudburst in Junglechatti near Lincholi on Wednesday night, with roads washed away in several areas including Lincholi, Bhimbali, Ghorapadav, and Rambada. Landslides and falling boulders also caused damage, leaving pilgrims stranded in various locations.

Additionally, the Army has begun constructing a footbridge on the washed-away road between Sonprayag and Gaurikund on the Kedarnath National Highway. Rudraprayag district officials announced that two sniffer dogs will assist in the ongoing rescue operations, with the dog squad arriving at Lincholi Helipad to begin searches. The aim is to locate individuals who may have sought refuge in the forests to escape the rain.