Uttarakhand: Grim tales of the Reaper

An exclusive Zee News video, perhaps the first ever visuals of the Kedarnath shrine and its surrounding areas after the disaster, shows disturbing images of the devastation. The footage showed bodies and debris, including massive boulders, strewn around the temple complex.

A survivor told Zee News that he saw 50-75 bodies in the temple complex and that at least 1,100 people were waiting in Kedarnath to be rescued. The shrine is intact though it seems to have suffered some cracks in its walls.

Zee TV correspondent Rahul Sinha, who reached Guptkashi, 33 km from Kedarnath temple, said no rescue teams had reached this temple town. “Just two media persons have reached. There are no amenities. People are hungry and thirsty,” said Sinha, adding that he also met some tourists whose gold and valuables were stolen. “Eyewitnesses say 10,000 have died but from information from hotels, I think the toll is about 4,000. Counting the dead is impossible right now,” Sinha said. 

Rashmi Puranik of Zee 24 Taas, who reached Uttarkashi on Thursday, said reaching the town was a task since roads had caved in and boulders were strewn across roads. “The route ahead of Gangotri is not motorable. Over 500 devotees who were in Gangotri reached Uttarkashi after three days, trekking through mountains,” she said. Devotees said bottled water, accommodation and food were available only at several times the normal prices.

In Guptkashi, a survivor said his family, including three children, spent two days inside a dark temple, where others injured and hungry were crying in pain.