Dehradun: As many as 179 trekkers, including six foreigners, were stranded on high-altitude routes in Uttarakhand amid bad weather, prompting the state govt to plan an air rescue operation from Monday morning. The 13 groups include 136 people in Uttarkashi and 43 in Bageshwar.Chief secretary Anand Bardhan, who reviewed the weather and disaster situation at the State Emergency Operation Centre on Sunday evening, directed officials to begin helicopter rescue operations from 6am on Monday, subject to weather conditions.“Rescue operations should be carried out on a war footing to ensure that all trekkers are evacuated safely,” Bardhan is said to have told officials.In Uttarkashi, the district administration said the 136 people included trekkers, mountaineers and support staff. Of them, 89 are part of several expeditions, while 18 are at the high-altitude Kalindi Pass base camp and 29 at the Auden’s Col Pass base camp.The expedition groups are spread across Mt Sudarshan, Mt Bhagirathi-II, Mt Jogin-I, Mt Shivling, Mt Satopanth and Shrikhanth Peak, besides trekking groups on high-altitude routes such as Kalindi Pass and Auden’s Col. Six foreign nationals are among those stranded, including members of teams at Mt Sudarshan and Mt Shivling.In Bageshwar, 43 trekkers were stopped at safe locations due to the weather, with 23 near Pindari glacier and 20 near Khathi village, the district administration said.Bardhan directed the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) to arrange adequate helicopters and additional aircraft if required. Officials were also asked to remain in contact with the groups and monitor their locations, health and other requirements, while coordinating with the meteorological department to modify the rescue plan depending on conditions in the high-altitude areas.Each helicopter involved in the operation has been asked to carry a satellite phone for communication in areas without mobile connectivity.Secretary of disaster management Vinod Kumar Suman said, “All those evacuated will undergo medical screening. AIIMS Rishikesh and Srinagar Medical College have been kept on alert to provide treatment if required.”The rescue plan comes amid continuous rain across several parts of the state since Saturday night, which disrupted road connectivity and left more than 80 roads blocked on Sunday. The Badrinath highway was also blocked at Sirobagad following a recurring landslide, leading to a long traffic jam.Dehradun recorded 23.4mm of rain, Barkot 44mm, Nainital 22mm and Haldwani 17mm, according to the regional meteorological centre. Daytime temperatures also dropped, with Dehradun recording a maximum of 21°C, around nine degrees below normal.