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NDTV
14 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Uttarakhand Tragedy A Cloudburst Or Glacier Collapse? BJP Leader Weighs In
New Delhi: Relief and rescue efforts continue in Uttarakhand's Harsil and Dharali after a cloudburst caused flash floods on Tuesday afternoon. Efforts are on to rebuild the Bailey Bridge at Limchigadh to restore road connectivity. Here are the top 10 updates on Uttarkashi flash floods: The market area in Dharali village of Uttarkashi has been destroyed, said BJP MP Trivendra Rawat while speaking to NDTV. It is not clear if the cloudburst caused flash floods or if a glacier broke, he added. Dharali remains cut off due to extensive landslides and road damage. However, road clearance has progressed up to Limchigadh. A 100-meter-long iron bridge, the Bailey bridge, connecting Gangnani to Dharali, is being rebuilt. The reconstruction, which started last night, is expected to be completed in 24 hours. Trucks carrying construction material had to stop for a brief period after an ambulance got stuck following a landslide at Bhatwari village. After two days of no communication, ten pilgrims from Banaskantha district of Gujarat, who were stranded near Dharali in Uttarakhand, were rescued by the Indian Army and airlifted to Rishikesh. One of the rescued pilgrims reportedly stayed behind voluntarily, choosing to continue the pilgrimage. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level meeting with the Director General of ITBP, NDRF and Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, and took stock of the ongoing relief and rescue operations in Uttarkashi district. Chief Minister also pledged to provide his one month's salary for disaster relief work in Uttarkashi. The Indian Army, in close coordination with the Indian Air Force, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and civil administration, continues to lead rescue and relief efforts. NDRF (105 personnel) and SDRF teams are participating in Operation Dharali, along with 10 trained Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs. At least 357 civilians and 13 army personnel have been rescued through a combination of air and ground efforts. Eight soldiers of the 14th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles are still missing. Around 100 civilians are also missing, said the civil administration. Aviation is playing a key role in rescuing people. On August 7 alone, 68 helicopter sorties were conducted, including six by the Indian Air Force, seven by the Army, and 55 by civil helicopters. A heli-bridging network has been activated between Dehradun, Harsil, Matli, and Dharasu ALG, supported by C-295 aircraft to ferry critical supplies, rescue teams, and stranded civilians. The monsoon in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh continues to affect lives and livelihoods and cause damage to infrastructure. Since the start of the monsoon on June 20, the state has reported 51 landslides, 58 flash floods, and 30 cloudburst events. At least 202 people have died this monsoon season, of which 108 deaths were caused by rain-related disasters, and 94 deaths from road accidents. A yellow alert has been issued for parts of Shimla and Solan districts in Himachal Pradesh. Gusty winds are expected in Una and Bilaspur. Heavy rains are expected in three districts of Una, Kangra and Mandi tomorrow.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Uttarakhand CM Dhami monitors flood relief in Uttarkashi
Photo/ANI UTTARKASHI: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday continued to monitor relief and rescue work in the flash flood-affected Dharali-Harsil valley for the second day, after a cloudburst struck Uttarkashi earlier this week. The Chief Minister directed officials to restore roads, communication, electricity, and food supply at the earliest. He said the government was working to safely evacuate all affected people and restore normal life as quickly as possible. Efforts to rescue stranded residents have been stepped up with aerial assistance. Helicopters are airlifting people from remote areas to the Matli helipad, from where arrangements have been made for their onwards journey. Meanwhile, in a coordinated response, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed multiple assets, including Chinook and Mi-17V5 helicopters, as well as C-295 and AN-32 transport aircraft. As of now, 226 civilians have been evacuated, 130 personnel from the National and State Disaster Response Forces (NDRF/SDRF) have been inducted, and nearly 20 tonnes of relief material have been airlifted to the affected region. The IAF confirmed that its resources remain on standby for sustained operations in the days ahead. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Coaches Swear by This for Youth Training know Better Plan Better Read Now Undo On Thursday, the Indian Army played a crucial role in restoring communication links. Its teams successfully established satellite and radio relay systems, enabling stranded civilians to reconnect with their families using satellite internet. A footbridge has been constructed on the Bhagirathi River between Dharali and Mukhawa village. CM Dhami announced he would donate one month's salary towards disaster relief. According to his office, the state government is conducting relief and rescue operations in the Dharali and Harsil areas on a "war footing". He appealed to public representatives, officials, voluntary organisations and citizens to "cooperate" in relief work "according to their capacity". Two days after the cloudburst, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said 21 more civilians stranded at Gangotri were airlifted by helicopter from Nelong to Harsil on Thursday.
News18
15 hours ago
- Climate
- News18
Uttarakhand: Army leads relief ops in Dharali; Over 350 civilians rescued
Dharali (Uttarakhand) [India], August 8 (ANI): The Indian Army, in close coordination with the Indian Air Force, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, BRO, and civil administration, continues to lead large-scale rescue and relief efforts in the flood- and landslide-affected region of Dharali and Harsil in Uttarakhand under Operation per the statement, Dharali remains completely cut off due to widespread landslides. However, road clearance efforts have progressed up to Limchigad, where the launch of a Bailey Bridge is currently underway and expected to be completed by Friday terms of weather conditions, Matli and Harsil have experienced a period of clear skies, aiding rescue efforts. However, low visibility and rain over Dehradun have temporarily delayed some planned air sorties.'So far, a total of 357 civilians have been rescued, with 119 airlifted to Dehradun. Rescue teams on the ground include Indian Army columns, combat engineers, medical units, and specialised Search and Rescue (SAR) dog squads. The NDRF has deployed 105 personnel, working in tandem with SDRF and ITBP teams, including medical officers stationed in Harsil and Dharali," said the Indian Army in a doctors, nursing assistants and combat medics are providing on-site treatment to rescued civilians at transit locations. Among the evacuees are 13 Army personnel, while eight soldiers from the 14 Rajputana Rifles remain unaccounted for. The civil administration has reported that approximately 100 civilians are still missing, and two civilian fatalities have been assets have played a key role in the operations. On August 7 alone, 68 helicopter sorties were conducted, including six by the Indian Air Force, seven by the Army, and 55 by civil helicopters. A heli-bridging network has been activated between Dehradun, Harsil, Matli, and Dharasu ALG, supported by C-295 aircraft to ferry critical supplies, rescue teams, and stranded aid coordination, the Indian Army has established a Communication Control Room at Harsil, with satellite and Wi-Fi connectivity operational. Meanwhile, BSNL and Airtel are working to restore public mobile networks in the affected military leadership, including the General Officer Commanding, Uttar Bharat Area, and the Commander, 9 (Independent) Mountain Brigade, are on the ground in Harsil to oversee operations and ensure synergy between military and civilian statement said, 'The planned actions for August 8, 2025, include the launch of a Bailey Bridge at Limchigad to restore vital road connectivity, the aerial induction of critical relief materials and equipment, continued search operations in Harsil and nearby areas, and the evacuation of remaining stranded civilians by air from Harsil to Matli and Dehradun."The Indian Army remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of affected citizens, working round the clock in synergy with other agencies to overcome the difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions. (ANI)
News18
17 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Uttarakhand CM Dhami monitors flood relief in Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], August 8 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday continued to monitor relief and rescue work in the flash flood-affected Dharali-Harsil valley for the second day, after a cloudburst struck Uttarkashi earlier this Chief Minister directed officials to restore roads, communication, electricity, and food supply at the said the government was working to safely evacuate all affected people and restore normal life as quickly as to rescue stranded residents have been stepped up with aerial are airlifting people from remote areas to the Matli helipad, from where arrangements have been made for their onwards journey. Meanwhile, in a coordinated response, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed multiple assets, including Chinook and Mi-17V5 helicopters, as well as C-295 and AN-32 transport aircraft. As of now, 226 civilians have been evacuated, 130 personnel from the National and State Disaster Response Forces (NDRF/SDRF) have been inducted, and nearly 20 tonnes of relief material have been airlifted to the affected IAF confirmed that its resources remain on standby for sustained operations in the days Thursday, the Indian Army played a crucial role in restoring communication links. Its teams successfully established satellite and radio relay systems, enabling stranded civilians to reconnect with their families using satellite internet.A footbridge has been constructed on the Bhagirathi River between Dharali and Mukhawa village. CM Dhami announced he would donate one month's salary towards disaster relief. According to his office, the state government is conducting relief and rescue operations in the Dharali and Harsil areas on a 'war footing".He appealed to public representatives, officials, voluntary organisations and citizens to 'cooperate" in relief work 'according to their capacity".Two days after the cloudburst, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said 21 more civilians stranded at Gangotri were airlifted by helicopter from Nelong to Harsil on Thursday. (ANI)
India.com
2 days ago
- Climate
- India.com
Uttarkashi Crisis: Are Dense Fog, Broken Links, And Landslide Fears Hampering Rescue Efforts?
Rescue efforts in Dharali, Uttarkashi, which has been devastated by recent flash floods and cloudbursts, are being severely crippled due to harsh weather and hostile geographical terrain. In spite of tireless attempts by Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF teams to rescue people buried under mud and debris, the situation is not easy. Indian Air Force helicopters, though on standby from Tuesday afternoon, have not been able to fly because of the bad weather. Dharali and Harsil, where the cloudbursts and rains have caused the biggest devastation, have witnessed extensive landslips, isolating or covering several roads. Heavy mud deposits, boulders that have rolled down, dense fog, and incessant rain have significantly hampered rescue operations. The main road access to Dharali is still cut off, rendering the supply of relief items and rescue of stranded persons very challenging. IAF's ALH Mk-III and Mi-17 helicopters are on standby in Bareilly, while AN-32 and C-295 planes are standby in Agra, fully loaded with relief material. But, as per IAF sources, the whole area is covered with heavy clouds and dense fog, resulting in zero visibility. Flight of helicopters under such weather conditions over rugged terrain is considered extremely dangerous because pilots cannot observe the landscape. Inaccessible Terrain, Fog, and Communication Blackout The harsh terrain of the Himalayan area, featuring slim valleys and irregular paths, makes ground rescue operations difficult. The constant rain and thick fog have erased visibility, further slowing the rate of relief and rescue operations. The Meteorological Department also warned of the ongoing unfavorable weather. In addition to its difficulties, the natural disaster has taken a heavy toll on communication infrastructure. Phone networks are out in most places, with contact being only through satellite phones. This breakdown in communication is posing obstacles to coordination among the different rescue teams. Teams on Foot, Machines Stuck Army and ITBP personnel, deployed in surrounding areas, have been compelled to walk to the affected locations. The roadways are destroyed and clogged with water and mud, making movement very difficult. Heavy machinery, essential in the removal of debris, could not go to the disaster zones because road connections were totally cut off. Thick layers of accumulated mud and debris in certain areas are proving to be a major hindrance to rescue operations. The removal of the trapped people and transport of heavy machinery are turning out to be Herculean tasks. The ongoing rains also increase concerns about repeated landslides and new flash floods, which are further hampering rescue missions and making it more challenging to supply aid to affected populations.
