The Hindu : Front Page : End of a nightmare for stranded people

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

End of a nightmare for stranded people

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: All the 167 people stranded at the Gaiparnath temple on the foothills of Chambal ravines, 25 km from Kota in Rajasthan – after the stairs leading to the popular pilgrim centre collapsed on Sunday – were rescued in a six-hour-long operation on Monday. The district administration confirmed the death of two persons in the mishap.

The pilgrims and holiday revellers, who included 35 women and 36 children, were trapped in the 250-foot-deep trench throughout the night as the rescue operation could not be launched after dark. The stranded people were supplied with food, water and flashlights through long ropes.

The stranded people were evacuated with the help of a crane, called from the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station in Rawatbhata, in 20 trips into the valley. According to the eyewitness accounts, most of the rescued people were in a state of shock after spending the whole night in panic.

The two deceased were identified as Deepu Nagar and Arvind Nagar, both young students from Kota city. They were buried in the rubble of 30 stairs of the old cantilever type ladder that caved in due to heavy rush of visitors. One of the injured was admitted to a hospital in Kota.

The Army, which was called in to assist in the rescue operation, sent two helicopters which were put on standby. In addition to the crane, five fire tenders were also pressed into service, while the Army jawans removed the debris and provided medical aid to the injured.

Rescue operation

Kota Collector Abhay Kumar and Superintendent of Police Vishal Bansal monitored the rescue operation. State Parliamentary Secretaries Om Birla and Bhawani Singh Rajawat also arrived at the spot.

Pilgrims have to climb down 300 stairs of the serpentine stone ladder to reach the 16th century temple of Lord Shiva at Gaiparnath. The place, situated along the Chambal river and covered by a dense forest, is also popular as a picnic spot and attracts hundreds of people everyday during the rainy season.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has condoled the death of two youngsters in the mishap and expressed gratitude to the local people who volunteered to join the rescue operation and extended help to the stranded pilgrims.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page