Death toll reaches 2; 65 people rescued in Gaipernath cave
Jaipur, Aug 11 (UNI) Another person died overnight taking the death toll to two at the ancient cave shrine at Gaipernath near Kota following the breaking down of steps due to landslide, while 65 out of the 135 stranded people were rescued this morning.
Efforts to rescue the remaining seventy people stranded since yesterday afternoon were on with the help of a heavy-duty crane.
Two IAF helicopters were flown to Kota from Jodhpur last night to facilitate the rescue operation but the work could not be undertaken due to darkness at the location and efforts were suspended for this morning.
Initially, helicopters could not work due to the difficult geographic location and subsequently, a crane was sought for the rescue operation which began around 0715 hrs today.
Two persons, including an engineering student, were killed so far, while one was injured at the cave of Gaipernath since yesterday.
Three persons were buried under rocky debris as the stairs caved in due to landslide at the spot situated on the banks of the Chambal river about 25 kms from Kota town, sources said.
The cave, situated below 250 ft from the road on a rocky outcrop on the Kota-Rawatbhata Road along the Darra sanctuary, has an ancient Shiv temple and a large number of people visit the place to pay obeisance and also for picnic.
Yesterday being Sunday, a large number of people were present when the incident occurred at around 1530 hrs.
According to witnesses, the landslide occurred twice in a short interval.
The information about the mishap was conveyed to the police by a stranded person through his mobile and police immediately swung into action.
The district administration officials reached the spot, the Army's assistance was also sought and two IAF helicopters were flown from Jodhpur but the rescue operations were hampered due to darkness at the location.
The administration has provided food packets to stranded people who included 33 women and 20 children.
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