According to the latest update from the Army, road access was severely disrupted at Bartwari, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangrani & Dharali and restoration efforts are underway.
Two days after heavy cloudbursts caused sudden flash floods in the Uttarkashi area of Uttarakhand, rescue and relief efforts are going on quickly and with full force. People are being airlifted to safer places, and those who were hurt are getting medical help right away. As of this morning, over 70 people have been rescued by helicopters from Dharali, the area worst affected by the floods and taken to a safer spot in Matli. From there, arrangements are being made to send them back to their homes.
Officials have also shared a list of 65 people who were stuck and have now been rescued. Their phone numbers have also been shared so families can contact them. All of them were airlifted to safety on Thursday, two days after the powerful floodwaters damaged homes and villages in Dharali. More rescue flights are expected during the day.
The rescue mission is being handled by teams from the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, along with the Uttarakhand Police and local government. Everyone is working together to make sure people are safe and get the help they need.
Indian Army increases rescue and relief work
At the same time, the Indian Army has increased its rescue and relief work in the Dharali area near Harsil, which was badly hit by the cloudburst. More than 225 army personnel including expert engineers and medical teams are working on the ground to help people. Drones are also being used to look from the sky and find people stuck in places that are hard to reach.
Because the roads are damaged in several places like Bartwari, Linchigad, Gangrani, and near Dharali, the Army has kept Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters ready in Dehradun for rescue flights. A temporary helicopter base is also being set up at the Matli Helipad to make airlifts quicker and smoother.
Special teams with radar equipment, trained search dogs, and five private helicopters have also joined in to support the rescue missions.
In a statement this morning, the Army said, “Lt Gen Sengupta, Army Commander Central Command, and GOC UB Area are present in Dharali. We are working closely with the Central Air Command to make sure everyone is rescued safely and given proper care. The Indian Army stands strongly with the people of Uttarakhand in this difficult time.”
MET dept issues red alert in Uttarakhand
The Meteorological Department has issued a Red Alert for many parts of the hilly state of Uttarakhand. Areas under this warning include Pauri Garhwal, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, Bageshwar, and Nainital. The alert will remain in place until August 12.
As a safety step, all schools and educational institutions in these areas have been closed. People are being strongly advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
(With inputs from agencies)
