The Indian Army is conducting major rescue and relief operations in cloudburst-hit Dharali near Harsil, Uttarakhand. With over 225 personnel on the ground, helicopters, medics, and engineers are aiding in the evacuation of stranded civilians and soldiers. The region remains cut off due to severe landslides and road breaches.
Indian army during rescue operations at Uttarakhand. (Pic/Defence PR0)
In order to make the highly intense situation in the Uttarakhand region normal, the army has been putting in the hard yards to rescue the people stranded in the landslide-hit parts of Uttarakhand. As informed through a release, the Indian Army continues to intensify Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the cloudburst-affected area of Dharali, near Harsil in Uttarakhand, according to an official statement.
Talking about the current situation in the flood-struck region of Uttarakhand, the region remains cut off due to multiple landslides and road breaches. Considering the intense situation, civilian and military teams have been working round the clock to rescue stranded people, provide relief, and restore connectivity. However, the region remains cut off due to multiple landslides and road breaches on the highway.
As per the statement issued by the Defence Ministry, roads are severely disrupted at multiple locations, including Bartwari, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangrani, and Dharali. Considering that the region has been struck by landslides very badly, repair work is underway to open the roads as soon as possible.
Moreover, to counter the situation smoothly, the military helipad at Harsil has been made operational, and the civil helipad at Nelong is now also operational and has been connected by road to Gangotri, enabling convenient movement of tourists. On the other hand, the civil helipad at Dharali remains non-functional due to a mudslide.
The statement, while briefing about the deployment of force personnel, said that, “With more than 225 troops currently on the ground, including engineers, medical teams, and rescue specialists, the forces aim to take the situation under control as soon as possible. Moreover, one Reeco Radar team is at Tekla, and another Reeco Radar is being inducted for further deployment. Also, the search and rescue dogs have been deployed to aid in locating missing persons.”
Furthermore, the army in its statement added that Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters are staged at Jollygrant Airport and are expected to begin transporting personnel and evacuating civilians, weather permitting. Additionally, five civil helicopters from Sahastradhara have been actively flying between Matli, Bhatwari, and Harsil to assist with rescue efforts, in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). An ad hoc aviation base is also being established at the ITBP helipad in Matli to streamline helicopter-based logistics.
Two bodies have been recovered, and three civilians have been confirmed deceased. The Civil Administration has reported that more than 50 individuals are missing. Additionally, eight Jawans and one JCO are reported missing.
The release by the Defence Ministry briefing about the current scenario at Uttarakhand informed that 70 civilians have been rescued thus far. The helicopter was used to evacuate nine army personnel and three civilians to Dehradun. Three civilians who were critically injured were transported to AIIMS Rishikesh via military ambulance. Conversely, there are a total of 8 people who have been admitted to the District Hospital in Uttarkashi.
In view of the situation, Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, also paid a visit to Dharali to take note of the adversely hit Uttarkashi area. The Chief of Staff, Central Command, is in close coordination with HQ Central Air Command to guarantee the efficient operation of helicopters, while the Army Commander of Central Command and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of UB Area are on site. The Indian Army and the ITBP have been playing their part to make the situation better. They are constantly working to provide food, shelter, and medical assistance to approximately 180 to 200 tourists who are currently stranded in Gangotri.
The release also mentioned that paratroops and medical teams will be transported to Harsil via Chinooks over the next 24-48 hours, while NDRF personnel and medics will be inducted to Nelong by Mi-17 helicopters. On return excursions, tourists are to be evacuated from the Nelong helipad.
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