NDRF observes 2nd Rescuers Day The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) observed the 2nd Commemoration Day of Rescuers Day today to pay homage to the NDRF personnel who were martyred during Rescue Operations in Kedarnath two years ago. A wreath laying ceremony was performed and Guard of Honour given at the Martyrs memorial built in Kedarnath by the NDRF at 11 AM. Senior officers from ITBP, Air Force and local Government were present at the site on this occasion. On this day two years ago, nine NDRF brave hearts along with 11 other rescuers of the ITBP and Indian Air Force made the supreme sacrifice when the helicopter carrying them crashed near Gaurikund due to thundering. The NDRF martyrs are Nityanand Gupta, Second-in-Command, Inspector Bheem Singh, SI/RO Satish Kumar and Constables Santosh Kumar, Ahir Rao Ganesh, K. Vinaygan, Sanjiv Kumar, Pawar Shashi Kant and Bassavaraj Yaragati. Following cloudburst and heavy rains, June 16, 2013 proved to be the dooms day for the pilgrims of Kedarnath and Badrinath. The holy pilgrimage became death bed for many devotees including the local inhabitants. To provide immediate relief to the victims, 14 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams of NDRF immediately rushed to the affected areas from the different locations and carried out restless Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in high ridges of the mountains in the utmost inhospitable condition. The specialized and skilled rescuers displayed their best efforts by creeping over the fragile and unreliable hills of the area and reaching to the victims who were lying helpless seeing the wrath of nature. As part of the Rescuers Day, a special expedition was flagged off from Ghaziabad to Kedarnath on June 18, 2015.
