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Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Fresh ‘heavy rainfall' alert poses new challenges in Dharali
Dehradun: A fresh weather alert has triggered renewed concern in Uttarkashi's flood-battered Dharali village, where rescue and relief efforts are already racing against time. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy rain across several districts, including Uttarkashi, over the next 24 hours, officials fear that worsening weather conditions could hamper operations in the coming days. The rain could also trigger fresh landslides in vulnerable areas in the hills, the regional meteorological centre said in its advisory. Based on the Met alert, the State Emergency Operation Centre issued a warning to all district magistrates on Friday, stating: "Most places in the state are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall in the next 24 hours, with moderate to heavy rainfall expected at some locations during the evening/night." Senior scientist at regional meteorological centre, Rohit Thapliyal, told TOI: "The monsoon is going to remain active over Uttarakhand till Aug 10, with bouts of heavy showers expected at isolated places in the state, including Uttarkashi, during the period." Rescue efforts in Dharali, where a massive flash flood triggered by a cloudburst earlier this week flattened homes and swept away infrastructure, are still largely dependent on air support. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Private Jet - The Prices May Surprise You! Private Jet I Search Ads Learn More Undo With roads leading to the village buried under debris and multiple stretches along the Gangotri highway still blocked, helicopters have been the only way in or out. On Friday, MI-17 and Chinook helicopters were grounded post-afternoon due to low visibility — highlighting how vulnerable operations remain to changing weather. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started reconstruction of a Bailey bridge at Limchigad near Gangnani. The bridge was washed away by a swollen local stream early on Wednesday. Over 90 sorties have so far been flown by MI-17s, Chinooks, Cheetahs and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) to evacuate stranded villagers and drop essential supplies. But any disruption in air movement could leave teams and locals stranded again, with rains increasing the threat of fresh landslides in the already fragile terrain. Officials said they are closely monitoring the weather conditions considering that the next 48 hours will be critical. Amid the challenging weather conditions, the Army continued its efforts in the rescue operations at Dharali as well as at their Harsil camp on Friday. General officer commanding of Army's Uttar Bharat area, Lt Gen DG Misra, said, "We are carrying out the task along with Indian Air Force (IAF). Amid our relentless efforts, our main focus is to evacuate the pilgrims from Gangotri shrine. The armed forces have been able to bring around 400 people, mainly pilgrims, from Gangotri to Harsil. The IAF choppers then evacuated 350 of them to Uttarkashi from where they were reaching Dehradun by road. The second priority is to evacuate the affected local residents while helping in restoration of power supply and communication lines." Meanwhile, Uttarakhand director general of police Deepam Seth reached Dharali to oversee the rescue operations being carried out by SDRF and local police units. "Our utmost priority is to rescue the stranded people from there and get them to safer areas," said Seth. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
No decision to scrap India-US defence deals after Trump tariffs: Sources
Days after US President Donald Trump doubled India's tariffs to 50 per cent, sources told India Today TV that no decision has been taken to cancel defence deals with Washington, DC, and that the status quo on defence procurement has been supplies from the US continue to flow into the country under existing contracts, and sources added that talks on follow-up orders will continue.A senior Defence Ministry official told India Today TV that the Reuters story on India pausing defence purchases from the US is "false and fabricated."A Reuters report earlier claimed that India had planned to send Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington, DC, last week. However, government sources have dismissed the claim, stating that there was no formal confirmation of Rajnath Singh's visit to the had been planning to send Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington in the coming weeks for an announcement on some of the purchases, but that trip has been cancelled, two of the people in an exclusive conversation with India Today TV, senior vice-president of IG Drones, retired Major General Padhi, downplayed the direct impact on defence relations between New Delhi and Washington, DC, but flagged concerns over a potential trust deficit between the two strategic further noted that India and the United States share close to 20 defence agreements and are engaged in a broad spectrum of military cooperation. 'India has been a key buyer of US-origin platforms like the Apaches, Chinooks, P-8I aircraft, and MQ-9 drones. We are also awaiting GE engines for the Tejas Mk1A fighters. None of these ongoing or upcoming deals are expected to be affected by Trump's tariff move,' he said, adding that strategic interests continue to bind the two nations.- EndsMust Watch
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Trump's tariffs may erode trust but won't hit defence ties: Ex-senior Army officer
Following Donald Trump's repeated tariff announcements on Indian exports to the US, retired Major General RC Padhi downplayed the direct impact on defence relations between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., but flagged concerns over a potential trust deficit between the two strategic an exclusive conversation with India Today TV, Major General Padhi, senior vice-president of IG Drones, noted that India and the United States share close to 20 defence agreements and are engaged in a broad spectrum of military has been a key buyer of US-origin platforms like the Apaches, Chinooks, P-8I aircraft, and MQ-9 drones. We are also awaiting GE engines for the Tejas Mk1A fighters. None of these ongoing or upcoming deals are expected to be affected by Trump's tariff move,' he said, adding that strategic interests continue to bind the two nations. However, he cautioned that unilateral economic measures by the US can lead to erosion of trust. 'Tariffs may not stop the deals, but they do create a credibility gap. India will factor this in when considering long-term defence partnerships,' he balancing ties with other global powers, the retired general stressed that India's decades-old relationship with Russia remains unaffected by any pressure or policy change from Washington.'We have strong defence ties with Russia, France, Israel and these will continue. In fact, in the long run, India may prefer reliable partners and pursue self-reliance in defence manufacturing rather than over-dependence on the US,' he India's sovereign decision-making, Majoral General Padhi said, 'India's national interest comes first. We are strong enough to decide our own course. The current glitch caused by the tariff is temporary and can be overcome.'When asked about US-Pakistan dynamics, the veteran was blunt in his assessment."Pakistan is a beggar nation. The US has used it for its own interests. But that equation is irrelevant to India. We've already demonstrated our military superiority to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor," he General Padhi believes that while the Trump tariff may introduce temporary friction, the fundamentals of India-US defence cooperation remain robust and India will continue to make choices that serve its long-term strategic goals.- Ends
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Uttarakhand floods: Affected area remains cut off as rescue efforts enter 3rd day
As rescue and relief operations continued for a third day after flash floods wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, the region remained cut off on Thursday owing to landslides and damage to roads. The military helipad at Harsil and Nelong remain operational and connected by road to Gangotri, enabling authorities to air lift tourists from Gangotri dham. The Army said that 225 troops were on the ground, including engineers, medical teams, and rescue specialists. A Chinook helicopter landed at Harsil Thursday, carrying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, equipment, and other essential supplies. As of Thursday morning, 61 people have been airlifted by helicopter to ITBP Hospital in Matli. Arrangements have also been made to ensure that the rescued individuals are sent to their respective destinations. In the meantime, five civil helicopters from Sahastradhara have been operating on the Matli-Bhatwari-Harsil route for rescue operations in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The Army said that an ad-hoc aviation base is being set up at Matli Helipad to expedite operations. Two bodies have been retrieved so far, with over 50 estimated to be missing. An Army JCO and eight soldiers remain missing while nine Army personnel and three civilians have been evacuated by helicopter to Dehradun. Three critically injured civilians have been moved to AIIMS Rishikesh by ambulance, and eight civilians were admitted to District Hospital, Uttarkashi. Around 180-200 tourists stranded at Gangotri are being provided food, shelter, and medical support by the Indian Army and the ITBP. The Army said that in the next 24-48 hours, they planned to airlift troops and medical teams to Harsil using Chinooks, and tourists will be evacuated from Nelong helipad on return sorties. Around 300 pilgrims and 100 local traders are currently in Gangotri. A total of 35 people from the Army gate at Harsil have also been evacuated to safe locations. Four rescue personnel from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering have been airlifted to Harsil. Recco radar teams, search-and-rescue dogs, and five civil helicopters operating from Sahastradhara continue to augment efforts, an Army statement said. Road restoration work is underway as blockages have resulted in delays in rescue efforts. As of 10 am, the water level at Bhimgoda Barrage in Haridwar was at 293.15 metres, a little below the danger level at 294.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- 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.
