Uttarkashi cloudbursts: Indian Army intensifies rescue and relief operations amid ongoing challenges
Mohsin Shahidi, DIG of the NDRF, said, "Eleven army soldiers are reported missing following yesterday's flash flood in the Uttarkashi region in Harsil."
Over 225 Army personnel, including infantry and engineering teams, are conducting search, rescue, and relief operations. Combat engineers have reached Dharali to clear debris and restore mobility in the area, which remains cut off due to multiple road breaches and a collapsed bridge. The Army has deployed specialized resources, including seven teams equipped with Recco Radar near Tekla to locate those buried in the debris. Additionally, search and rescue dogs are active at Harsil, with more en route from Remount and Veterinary Centres.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Situation is bad, will do whatever it takes to save lives. But it's a tough task'
Uttarakhand CM Puskhar Singh Dhami's chopper could land near disaster-hit Dharali only after five attempts on Wednesday. In an interaction with Kautilya Singh, the CM spoke about the current situation in the village and plans on how to take forward the rescue and relief ops. Excerpts: What is the present situation in Dharali? The area has got disconnected from the district headquarters. Due to heavy rains and landslides, roads leading to Dharali are damaged, so is an important bridge nearby. The helipad at Harshil is also hit, making heli operations even more difficult. To top it, communication networks have been disrupted. Power supply has snapped. The situation is adverse, but our rescue teams are putting their best efforts to save lives. It is a Herculean task. How many people are feared trapped in the debris? Some individuals have given wrong information that hundreds got trapped in the debris. This is completely wrong and misleading. According to our information, a total of 190 people were rescued, and 120 are from the right side of Dharali village area and 70 from the left. According to initial information, around five or six locals and some labourers might have got trapped under the debris. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo Two bodies were brought out. Going by fresh inputs, another dozen odd people might be trapped. Despite the hurdles, what is the progress of rescue ops? Teams from the Army, ITBP, SDRF, police and revenue department are carrying out rescue operations. Relief camps have been set up at Inter College Harsil, GMVN and Jhala. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to restore electricity and communication networks on a war footing. NIM and SDRF teams have begun constructing a temporary bridge at Limchagadh. At our request, the Centre has deployed two Chinooks and two MI-17 helicopters from Chandigarh, Sarsawa and Agra to Jolly Grant Airport early on Wednesday morning. Heavy machinery is being airlifted via Chinook helicopters to restore road connectivity. Around 125 Army personnel and 83 ITBP personnel are actively involved in rescue operations. BRO teams, including six officers and over 100 laborers, are working to clear blocked roads. Are there any tourists trapped at Dharali? So far, there is no information regarding tourists at Dharali. Besides, due to the monsoon, the number of pilgrims coming to Gangotri and other dhams has gone down considerably. I met the locals as well, but they did not give any information about tourists. There was a fair near the village on Tuesday, and it is said that around 100 to 150 people had gone there. With roads disconnected and helipad damaged, how do authorities plan to take the rescued people to hospital? This is a major challenge. We have planned a strategy to take the rescued persons from the Nelong side. A team of four doctors has already reached Harshil and efforts are on to bring them to Dharali at the earliest. Besides, a team of 13 specialists from Dehradun has been moved to Uttarkashi district hospital. A team of specialists has also been deployed at ITBP Matli and two more specialist doctors are scheduled to arrive at Uttarkashi on Thursday.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Many areas still flooded even as Ganga snails to recession
1 2 3 4 Varanasi: After remaining stable at 1 metre above 71.26 metres danger mark in Varanasi, Ganga receded on Wednesday morning though at a slow pace of 1 centimetre per hour. The river was on the rampage in Ballia as all its tributaries, including Saryu (Ghaghra) and Tons (Tamsa), were also flowing at danger level. The overflowing river swallowed over 45 houses and huts by Tuesday evening. Ganga was flowing at the 71.12-metre mark in Varanasi on Wednesday afternoon. After taking stock of flood situation with mayor Ashok Tiwari, district magistrate Satyendra Kumar said water level of the Ganga receded by about 12 cms compared to Tuesday's level. However, it is still about 80 cms above danger mark, affecting 28 wards in city areas, including its upstream and localities on the banks of Varuna. In all these areas, about 24 boats are operating, assisting approximately 4,500 by Tuesday. Rescue operations are being conducted actively by the administration, police, NDRF, RAF and water police teams. Wherever rescue is needed, it is being carried out. Efforts are being made to ensure dry rations reached those staying on upper floors of their homes. The entire team is in constant contact with everyone affected and is addressing any difficulties they encounter. In rural areas, 8,352 farmers in 90 villages were affected by flood, while around 8,000 people were displaced in urban areas. Officials are keeping vigil in flood-hit areas through CCTV network of the integrated control and command centre. A large area of the district has been facing power cut. Meanwhile, in Ballia, the Ganga was at 59.83 metres. This level is 2.215 metres above the danger mark of 57.615 metres and 0.56 metres below the highest recorded level of 60.39 metres (2016). As of today, 42 villages in the Sadar and Bairia tehsils have been affected by the rising water levels. In the urban area, five wards of the Ballia municipal council have been impacted. So far, 22 houses and 24 huts have been eroded, said district magistrate Mangla Prasad Singh, adding that process of distributing financial assistance for home grants to owners of houses affected or damaged by river erosion was underway. Apart from cooked meal packets, flood relief kits comprising dry rations are being distributed, while a total of 229 boats are being operated for relief and rescue works. Arrangements for clean drinking water for all affected families are being ensured. Milk is also being arranged for young children affected by the flood. The NDRF team, with four boats, is assisting all operations, while medical teams are stationed in each village for health check-ups. The animal husbandry department is caring actively for domestic animals of families affected. Veterinary officers are appointed in each village to take care of the animals, including vaccinations. Public Works Department and National Highway Division have been activated regarding road erosion and electricity department has been instructed to remain active in the field to control electricity-related incidents. Due to disrupted power supply in the affected villages, generators have been arranged to ensure lighting.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Uttarkashi flash flood: Rescuers at work despite tough situation
New Delhi: A day after Dharali-Harshil disaster in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi, rescuers faced a tough situation to reach the three sites that faced destruction. Damaged roads, rough weather, landslides and poor connectivity continued to be a challenge. Army, along with other agencies, on Wednesday launched a coordinated Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operation. The region is currently cut off from both north and south due to multiple road breaches and a collapsed bridge, they said. Till late Wednesday evening, the state administration was in no position to give any details of the scale of destruction in Dharali Bazar which had witnessed the collapse of several hotels, houses and homestays after being hit by the heavy, fast-falling debris. Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary, disaster management, said there are reports about 15 people missing in the Dharali disaster . Two bodies have been recovered so far. Teams of Army, NDRF, SDRF, ITBP are carrying out rescue and search operations at the spot. The situation improved in the afternoon following the successful landing of two helicopters carrying food and relief material in Dharali region. Another major challenge is restoration of communication networks. Chief minister Pushkar Dhami, who reached Uttarkashi early morning to monitor the rescue operation, will stay on Wednesday night. According to a SDRF press release, 135 people have been rescued. The 11 army jawans, who have received serious injuries, were airlifted to Matali hospital for medical treatment.
