141 rescued; 2 killed, 1 injured in Gaipernath cave

Jaipur, Aug 11 (UNI) As many as 141 people stranded at Gaipernath cave shrine near Kota since yesterday afternoon following caving in of stairs were rescued today even as the temple tragedy left two people dead and one injured.

Efforts to rescue stranded people started around 0730 hrs this morning with the help of the Army and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) and they took over seven hours to complete rescue operations, police sources said.

Two IAF helicopters were flown to Kota from Jodhpur last night to facilitate the operation but the work could not be undertaken due to darkness at the location and efforts were suspended for this morning.

The helicopters could not work due to the geographic location and subsequently, heavy duty crane was sought for the operation.

Two people, including an engineering student, were killed, while one was injured in the tragedy.

Three people 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 km from Kota town, sources said.

The cave, situated below 250 ft in the valley 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 accident 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 including 33 women and 20 children.

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