Authorities airlift construction material to Kedarnath

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 26

A helicopter carrying construction material, machinery parts and other heavy equipment required for reconstruction work in Kedarnath has be-gun operations.

Dr Raghav Langer, District Magistrate and chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Rudraprayag, said in the ongoing air induction process, external load lifting technique by helicopter was being used to carry oversized cargo to the Kedarnath area from the Guptkashi base station.

Devbhoomi Aviation Company employed by the DDMA for load induction is using its B-3 helicopter for air lifting under slung loads by carrying it beneath the helicopter suspended through lifting strops and cargo net. Underslung load operations require extreme precision and expertise and well trained pilots, crew and ground staff.

The District Magistrate said, “A series of trainings and simulations were conducted by a foreign pilot and experts in Dehradun’s Shastradhara helidrome, after which the DGCA gave the approval for an underslung operation in the Kedarnath region. This will expedite the reconstruction works and save the lengthy process of manual transportation of heavy loads along the 16-km trek route between Gaurikund to Kedarnath. Air induction is both time and cost-effective,” he said.

Dr Langer said the DDMA would continue the reconstruction works this winter in Kedarnath with the help of various implementing agencies such as NIM, GMVN, UPRNN and SDRF Civil unit. The important projects to be completed this winter season include creation of 120 pre-engineered pilgrim cottages, three-tier flood protection works behind the temple, construction of ‘teerth putohits’ buildings, construction of a ghat and other amenities at the confluence of Saraswati and Mandakini rivers, construction of additional cottages and SDRF facility at the Kedarnath base camp and Lincholi area.