3 IAF Chinooks airlift 135 Manimahesh devotees to safety in Himachal

Rescue operations for stranded Manimahesh pilgrims in Chamba began with IAF Chinook helicopters airlifting 135 devotees. Authorities, aided by HRTC buses and security forces, are ensuring safe return of thousands despite damaged roads and rains, prioritising convenience and safety of all pilgrims.

Chandigarh: The rescue of devotees stranded during the Manimahesh pilgrimage in the interiors of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, began on Friday, with three Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopters evacuating 135 devotees from Bharmour to the district headquarters.

A government spokesperson said that as the weather cleared after days of intermittent rains, “it is expected that all the devotees will be evacuated safely and sent to their destination.” Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has been monitoring the rescue operation from ground zero.

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The Manimahesh pilgrimage to the glacier-fed Manimahesh Lake, located at 13,500 feet in the Pir-Panjal range, coincides with Janmashtami, the festival celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth. Every year, hundreds of pilgrims from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and other parts of the country trek to the oval-shaped lake to catch a glimpse of Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva.

On Thursday, the Chamba administration began transporting nearly 500 devotees from Bharmour to Chamba by vehicles. At damaged road stretches, security personnel were deployed to assist devotees and ensure their safety. Despite adverse weather conditions, 35 ailing and elderly devotees were safely airlifted to Chamba on Thursday by a small helicopter that completed seven sorties.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has been providing free services to safely transport pilgrims returning from the Manimahesh Yatra. So far, about 6,647 pilgrims have been transported to Pathankot and Kangra free of cost through 153 buses. He added that the state government is prioritising the convenience and safety of pilgrims, and the free HRTC service will continue until the last passenger reaches home safely.