According to the Indian Army, over 225 Army personnel including infantry and engineering teams are on ground for search, rescue, and relief tasks…reports Asian Lite News
The Indian Army has launched a swift and coordinated Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation in the wake of a devastating cloudburst near Dharali, close to Harsil in Uttarakhand. The region is currently cut off from both north and south due to multiple road breaches and a collapsed bridge.
According to the Indian Army, over 225 Army personnel including infantry and engineering teams are on ground for search, rescue, and relief tasks. Combat engineers have reached Dharali to aid in clearing debris and restoring mobility.
As of 3 pm, 7 teams of the Indian Army are operating with Reeco Radar near Tekla while search and rescue dogs are deployed at Harsil; more are en route from Remount and Veterinary Centres.
As per the Indian Army, military helipad at Harsil is operational. Three civil helicopters launched from Sahastradhara in coordination with SDRF have successfully landed at Bhatwari and Harsil for casualty evacuation and relief material delivery.
Chinook, Mi-17, ALH helicopters are on standby at Jolly Grant, Chandigarh, and Sarsawa for troop and material airlift – awaiting tasking clearance.
As of 3 pm, there are three confirmed fatalities while over 50 persons are reportedly missing (as per the Civil Administration).
According to the statement, a total of 9 personnel are also missing, including one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and 8 jawans.
In a significant infrastructural damages, key road stretches near Bartwari, Linchigad, and Gangrani have been washed away, severely affecting movement.
Civil helipad at Dharali remains non-functional due to a mudslide.
The Indian Army remains committed to assisting local administration in rescue and relief efforts under challenging terrain and weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that around 190 people have been rescued from the Dharali area, following a devastating cloudburst that triggered massive flash floods and landslides in the area.
Chief Minister Dhami reaffirmed that both the Centre and the state government are fully committed to making arrangements for the victims of the incident, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also assured to provide all possible help. He stated that the disaster has hit the entire Dharali.
Indian security and disaster management forces on Thursday are continuing the rescue operation in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi after the cloudburst and mudslide incident. People trapped near Uttarkashi were brought to the Matli helipad.
The Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Uttarakhand Police and local administration are carrying out a massive rescue operation in Uttarkashi’s Dharali.
Two seriously injured people were referred to AIIMS Rishikesh from the Health Camp Matli. They have been admitted to AIIMS.
Giving an update regarding the rescue operations, Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that two sorties with 9-10 evacuees have taken off from Harsil, and an IAF Chinook will soon take off from Jolly Grant Airport with NDRF personnel and essential materials.
Division Commissioner Pandey said, “Our heli operations have begun. Our first priority is to evacuate pilgrims from the Gangotri Dham. Two sorties with 9-10 evacuees have taken off from Harsil, and operations will go on all day. An IAF Chinook will soon take off from Jolly Grant Airport with NDRF personnel and essential materials, which will be taken to Harsil. The District Magistrate and SSP have established their offices in the field. Technical experts of all essential services have reached there.”
He said that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is also in Uttarkashi and is supervising the rescue operations.
“Currently, our search and rescue operation is in full swing, and we hope that within one or two days, the situation will come back to normal. The road from Uttarkashi to Harsil is extensively damaged, and it will take some time to rebuild. The CM is also camping in Uttarkashi and supervising all operations,” he added.
Anamika Mehra from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, who was rescued by the security forces, expressed gratitude towards the Indian Army, state police and government. (ANI)
