In a major operation, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued 413 pilgrims stranded on the Kinnaur Kailash trek route in Himachal Pradesh after cloudbursts and torrential rains washed away two makeshift bridges.
The rescue took place after a bridge over the Tangling drain was swept away on Wednesday morning, leaving pilgrims stranded in the mountainous terrain. The ITBP's 17th Battalion, using a rope-based traverse crossing technique, successfully evacuated all individuals.
According to officials, the operation involved 1 Gazetted Officer, 4 Subordinate Officers, and 29 personnel from the ITBP, along with a 14-member NDRF team. High-altitude mountaineering and Rope Rescue and Climbing (RRC) equipment were deployed, including crampons, ice axes, ropes, harnesses, and glacier navigation gear.
Dramatic visuals shared by the ITBP on X (formerly Twitter) showed pilgrims ziplining across swollen streams and being escorted to safety.
Following a distress call from the Kinnaur District Administration, teams were remobilised to continue rescue efforts. The ITBP confirmed ongoing operations in close coordination with local authorities.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh remains battered by relentless monsoon rains. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reports 194 deaths and losses exceeding ₹1.85 lakh crore between June 20 and August 5 due to rain-triggered disasters.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Swift rescue after cloudburst and bridge collapse leaves 413 pilgrims stranded in Himachal

413 Rescued from Kinnaur Kailash Trek by ITBP NDRF

Swift rescue after cloudburst and bridge collapse leaves 413 pilgrims stranded in Himachal

August 6, 2025 | 12:56 IST