Efforts to rescue 135 people in cave shrine on

Jaipur, Aug 11(UNI) Efforts to rescue 135 people, stranded at Gaipernath near Kota since yesterday afternoon following the breaking down of steps in the ancient cave shrine due to landslide, were on today with two Indian Air Force(IAF) helicopters being pressed into service.

The two helicopters were flown to Kota from Jodhpur last night to facilitate rescue operations but the work could not be undertaken due to darkness at the location and so the efforts were suspended for this morning.

An engineering student was killed, one person was injured and 135 devotees and picnickers were stranded at the cave of Gaipernath as the steps leading to the cave shrine broke down.

Three persons were buried under rocky debris as the stairs caved in due to landslide at the spot situated on the bank 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 for picnic.

Yesterday being Sunday, a large number of people were present when the incident occurred around at 1530 hrs.

According to witness, 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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