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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
287 more rescued as government deploys 4 choppers to evacuate people stranded in disaster-hit Uttarkashi
Four helicopters were pressed into service to airlift people stranded in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi following flash floods and landslides earlier this week which claimed multiple lives and left behind a trail of destruction. On the fifth day of rescue operations on Saturday, 170 people were airlifted to ITBP's Matli helipad and 107 to the airstrip at Chinyalisaur, Uttarakhand Police said. According to official data, more than 1,000 people have been evacuated so far from parts of the disaster-hit Dharali area which are still cut off following mudslide and flash floods on Tuesday. The district administration has confirmed four deaths and 49 people are missing since the disaster. Four helicopters of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority are making sorties to rescue people who have taken shelter in various locations of the district. The Indian Air Force's Chinook helicopter transporting a generator set to the relief camp took off from the Jollygrant airport on Saturday morning. Power supply to Dharali and surrounding areas was badly hit by the flash floods. A Bailey bridge is being constructed at Limchigad near Gangnani on a war footing to improve road connectivity to the affected areas. Work on its construction went on overnight so that it is ready in the next 24 hours. The Gangotri highway is either blocked or breached at several points hampering efforts to transport advanced equipment required to search for the missing through tonnes of debris lying on the flash flood-ravaged site.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Evacuation of pilgrims underway in disaster-hit Uttarkashi, 80 more rescued safely
UTTARKASHI: Evacuation of stranded pilgrims from areas around the disaster-hit Dharali village continued on Friday, with authorities focusing on rescue and relief operations via air as the Gangotri National Highway and several rural motor roads are damaged at a number of points. So far, 80 people have been brought safely to the ITBP's Matli helipad since the morning, an official said. Advanced equipment required to dredge through the mounds of debris in Dharali in search of the missing are being flown to the spot with the help of IAF's Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters and those of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority. Food supplies are also being sent to the affected areas in helicopters, officials said. Rummaging through the debris in search of the missing is an uphill task as the rubble heaps at places are 50-60 feet high. With roads breached at various points, the thrust is on air support both for the evacuation of the stranded people and transporting food supplies and other essentials to the affected areas, an NDRF official said.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Evacuation of pilgrims underway in disaster-hit Uttarkashi, 80 more rescued safely
Uttarkashi, Evacuation of stranded pilgrims from areas around the disaster-hit Dharali village continued on Friday, with authorities focusing on rescue and relief operations via air as the Gangotri National Highway and several rural motor roads are damaged at a number of points. Evacuation of pilgrims underway in disaster-hit Uttarkashi, 80 more rescued safely So far, 80 people have been brought safely to the ITBP's Matli helipad since the morning, an official said. Advanced equipment required to dredge through the mounds of debris in Dharali in search of the missing are being flown to the spot with the help of IAF's Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters and those of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority. Food supplies are also being sent to the affected areas in helicopters, officials said. Rummaging through the debris in search of the missing is an uphill task as the rubble heaps at places are 50-60 feet high. With roads breached at various points, the thrust is on air support both for the evacuation of the stranded people and transporting food supplies and other essentials to the affected areas, an NDRF official said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been camping at the district headquarters in Uttarkashi for the past few days to keep a close eye on the ongoing rescue operations. In a post on Facebook, he said, "Reviewed the relief and rescue operations going on in Dharali in Uttarkashi this morning." With the help of Heli Seva, Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters, rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing since the morning and people are being brought back safely, he said. Necessary guidelines have been given to the officials on the restoration of roads, communication, electricity and food supply. "We are trying to evacuate all the affected people safely and restore normal life as soon as possible," he said. He added that the central government is providing full cooperation for the rescue efforts. The chief minister has also decided to contribute an amount equal to a month of his salary towards disaster relief operations in Uttarkashi. Dhami said the state government stands with the affected people at every step, and added that everyone should come together and help the victims in this difficult situation. He appealed to public representatives, officials, voluntary organisations and common citizens to make monetary contributions to the ongoing relief work in the disaster-hit areas of the district as per their capacity. The flash floods in Dharali on Tuesday afternoon demolished buildings and swept away people and cars. According to residents of nearby villages, such as Mukhba, more than half of the village was washed out in the disaster. Dharali is the main stopover on the way to Gangotri, from where the Ganga originates, abounding in hotels, homestays, restaurants and guest houses. In the rescue operations carried out so far, two bodies have been found while more than 50 are missing, including nine army personnel, officials engaged in rescue operations said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
