The Indian Army on Wednesday put its foot down and refused to allow different state governments to mount their own operations to evacuate pilgrims of their respective states by arranging for special helicopters.

The Uttarakhand government at the behest of the Army directed officials from the states to put the copters they have hired at the disposal of the Army for rescue operations.

 
“There are clear instructions from the Army that it will operate the copters and transport pilgrims as per the tokens already issued to pilgrims. They said a strict no to state-wise evacuation of pilgrims,” official sources said.

The reference was to tokens in different colours issued to pilgrims to indicate priority for evacuation, depending on their condition.tate governments have been selectively picking up pilgrims from their own states while ignoring the claims of others holding the Army’s priority tokens.