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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Uttarkashi flash floods: Rescue operations enter day six; 1,308 people evacuated
DEHRADUN: Air rescue operations have resumed for the sixth day in disaster-hit Harsil and Dharali, Uttarkashi. 1,308 people had been safely evacuated so far. Indian Army's MI-17 and Chinook helicopters, alongside state choppers, tirelessly work on the mission, navigating the challenging mountainous terrain. State Disaster Management Secretary, Vinod Kumar Suman, informed TNIE that the Limchagad bridge's completion is a major boost to ongoing operations. This vital link connects the India-China border with the revered Gangotri Dham, and its opening is expected to greatly accelerate ground operations and aid movement into the affected zones. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is personally overseeing rescue efforts "Our top priority is to safely evacuate every person and ensure they receive all necessary support," the Chief Minister stated. "The Limchagad bridge's completion is a significant step forward." With clearer skies and improved connectivity now established, relief work is expected to intensify. Six days after the devastating cloudburst in Harsil-Dharali, Uttarkashi, the grim search for those buried under metres of debris continues with agonizingly little success.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Uttarakhand grapples with 18,464 disasters in nine years; averaging of over 2,000 annually
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand is grappling with an alarming surge in natural calamities, experiencing an average of over 2,000 disasters annually. In the past nine years alone, a staggering 18,464 incidents have impacted residents across the Himalayan state, leading to significant loss of life and property from events ranging from cloudbursts to flash floods. The state's Disaster Management Department meticulously tracks a wide array of incidents, including road accidents, fires, landslides, earthquakes, floods, insect attacks, avalanches, heavy rainfall, lightning strikes, hailstorms, gales, drownings, wild animal attacks, cloudbursts, forest fires, disease outbreaks, and electrocutions. "We collect comprehensive data on fatalities, injuries, and missing persons, alongside records of partially and completely damaged homes," stated Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of the State Disaster Management Department. "Our figures from 2015 to 2024 indicate an average of 2,051 disasters occurring each year."
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
274 rescued as rescue operations gather pace in Uttarkashi, over 60 still missing
Dehradun, Rescue operations gathered pace on Thursday in the disaster-hit Dharali village in Uttarkashi as weather improved and more than 270 people stranded in different locations in the district were evacuated to safety with the help of IAF's Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters. 274 rescued as rescue operations gather pace in Uttarkashi, over 60 still missing The army said 50 civilians are missing besides nine of its personnel including one junior commissioned officer. However, eyewitnesses said the number of missing persons could be even higher. According to officials, at least four people have been killed in the disaster that struck the ecologically fragile area on Tuesday afternoon. Rescuers recovered two bodies on Wednesday, but it was not clear if these were among the four deaths reported the previous day. With a let-up in rain and improvement in weather conditions, helicopters made several sorties during the day to evacuate people who had taken refuge in army camps and neighbouring villages after the disaster. A team of 69 NDRF rescuers, two cadaver dogs and veterinarians joined rescue operations to look for survivors. "This is a big disaster and the analysis of the damage is going on. The roads connecting Uttarkashi have been badly damaged. However, our teams are working in the affected areas to rescue the victims," NDRF DIG Gambhir Singh Chauhan told PTI. A total of 274 people have been brought to Harsil, Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said. Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya said 275 people from Harsil, Gangotri and Jhala have been sent to Matli helipad from where they are being sent to their respective destinations. These include people from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, Karnataka, Telangana and Punjab, he said. One of the rescued tourists, Bhupendra Singh Mehta, recalled how the flash floods washed away everything in sight. "We were asleep when the flash floods hit. We woke up to people shouting, 'run, run'. Everything around our homestay was washed away and the debris had come up to our window on the second floor. We jumped from the second floor and managed to crawl to a bridge and save ourselves," he said. Another rescued tourist, Chandan, said, "We saw people buried under the debris at 15-20 locations." Garhwal division's Inspector General of Police Rajeev Swaroop said 35 people were brought to the Jolly Grant airport from the disaster-affected areas of Uttarkashi in a Chinook helicopter this afternoon. Heavy rain in Uttarkashi over the past few days hampered search and rescue operations. Many roads in the district are still blocked or broken by landslide debris at several points. Efforts were also stepped up to airlift advanced equipment to the worst-hit Dharali village to speed up the search for those trapped under the rubble, officials said. The Indian Army, in close coordination with other authorities, ramped up Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations in Dharali and nearby Harsil. The region remains cut off due to multiple landslides and road breaches. equipment which were held up at different locations due to blocked roads are being airlifted to the spot. A VSAT equipment was airlifted to Matli which has to be installed in Harsil to improve internet connectivity in the area. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who is camping in Uttarkashi since Wednesday to keep a close eye on the rescue operations, Thursday met women whose loved ones are missing after the disaster. "I met the sisters affected by the Dharali disaster and felt the pain hidden in their tears. I salute their courage in this difficult time," he said in a post on Facebook. "I assured them that we all stand with them in this hour of crisis, relief and rescue work will continue until every person trapped there is safely evacuated. Every need is being met on a priority basis." Nine Army personnel and three civilians were evacuated to Dehradun by helicopter. Three critically injured civilians were shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh and eight were admitted to the Uttarkashi district hospital, the army said added. Road access is severely disrupted at multiple locations, including Bartwari, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangnani and Dharali. Civilian and military teams are working round the clock to rescue stranded people, provide relief and restore connectivity, it said. The military helipad in Harsil and another in Nelong are operational and connected by road to Gangotri, enabling convenient movement of tourists. A civil helipad in Dharali remains non-functional due to a mudslide. According to the Army, more than 225 troops, including engineers, medical teams, and rescue specialists, are on the ground. Search and rescue dogs have also been deployed. One Reeco Radar team is in Tekla village and another Reeco Radar is being inducted for further deployment, the release said. Five civil helicopters from Sahastradhara have been operating between Matli, Bhatwari and Harsil for the rescue operations in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force . An action plan has been prepared for the next two days hours. It includes airlifting para troops and medical teams to Harsil by Chinook helicopters and National Disaster Response Force personnel and medics to Nelong by Mi-17 helicopters, road opening ahead of Uttarkashi and Tekla, and evacuation of tourists from Nelong helipad on return sorties. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Search, rescue operation underway in Gangotri region: 87 airlifted, over 50 missing
Uttarkashi: At least 87 people, mostly pilgrims stranded in the Gangotri Dham area of Uttarakhand, were airlifted from Harsil to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Matli helipad near Uttarkashi on Thursday, as search and rescue operations continued in the Harsil-Dharali region. Search, rescue operation underway in Gangotri region: 87 airlifted, over 50 missing Currently, over 450 personnel from the Army, ITBP, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and state police are carrying out rescue and search operations following suspected cloudbursts earlier this week that triggered flash floods along the banks of the Kheer Ganga river in Uttarakhand. An additional 814 rescuers are awaiting road clearance to reach the affected areas in Dharali, according to officials. Over 400 people, including 300 pilgrims and 100 local traders, stranded in Gangotri Dham are being evacuated to Harsil, from where they are being airlifted by more than a dozen helicopters, according to the state disaster response machinery, which primarily consists of the SDRF, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), and the Incident Response System (IRS). Also Read: Uttarkashi cloudburst: Vulnerable zone bears brunt of disasters 'So far, 274 people have been brought to Harsil from Gangotri and other include 131 from Gujarat, 123 from Maharashtra, 21 from Madhya Pradesh, 12 from UP, 6 from Rajasthan, 7 from Delhi, 5 from Assam, 5 from Karnataka, 3 from Telangana and 1 from Punjab. All are safe and are being brought to Uttarkashi and Dehradun,' secretary disaster management Vinod Kumar Suman said. The first Chinook helicopter of the Indian Air Force that landed in Harsil, carrying NDRF personnel, equipment, and other essential supplies, later evacuated people to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Also Read: Uttarkashi disaster highlights trade-offs for construction A statement issued by the Indian Army, and shared by the state government, confirmed three civilian deaths and stated that over 50 people remain missing as per the civil administration's estimate. It also reiterated that nine army personnel—including one JCO and eight jawans—are untraceable. The statement added that nine army personnel and three civilians have been airlifted to Dehradun, and three critically injured civilians were sent to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh. Eight civilians were admitted to the district hospital in Uttarkashi, and two bodies have been recovered. Also Read: 28 tourists from Kerala missing after Uttarkashi flash floods are safe Meanwhile, road connectivity to Dharali remains severely disrupted at multiple locations, including Batwadi, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangnani, and Dharali. Restoration work is being carried out, officials said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- 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.
