New Delhi, August 6: About 150 people have been rescued from Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, which was struck by devastating flash floods a day ago, even as 11 Army personnel remain missing, an officer from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said on Wednesday.
Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Mohsen Shahedi addressed the press, stating that three teams of the federal contingency force are en route to the flood-affected Dharali village. However, they have been delayed due to a blockage on the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi highway caused by landslides. Bad weather has also so far prevented two additional NDRF teams from being airlifted from Dehradun.
Shahedi added that according to updates received by the NDRF, joint teams from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are actively carrying out rescue operations in the affected areas and have managed to rescue around 150 individuals so far.
“We have been told that four people have been killed and about 50 are missing. Eleven army troops are missing from the Harsil area,” Shahedi confirmed.
Three NDRF teams are reportedly very close to the worst-hit locations and are expected to reach once the access route is cleared. The flash floods were triggered around 2 PM on Tuesday by a cloudburst that hit multiple villages in Uttarkashi.
He also noted the formation of a lake in the higher region, but reassured that it is currently safe as the water level is receding.
Meanwhile, the ITBP has reported the successful rescue of 413 pilgrims stranded on the Kinner Kailash Yatra route in the state. A large stretch of the trekking path had been washed away by the floodwaters. Using a rope-based traverse crossing technique, ITBP personnel managed to evacuate the stranded pilgrims to safety, an ITBP spokesperson said.
Earlier on Tuesday, a powerful cloudburst in the Kheer Ganga river catchment area triggered devastating flash floods in Dharali village, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and leaving over 50 others missing. The deluge caused massive destruction, sweeping away homes, hotels, and homestays, leaving the local population in shock and panic.
Dramatic visuals circulating on social media captured the terror of the moment. In one video, muddy floodwaters can be seen engulfing roads and buildings as frightened locals scream for help. A chilling voice in one clip can be heard crying out, “Everything is finished.”
In light of the crisis, the Uttarkashi District Emergency Operation Centre has issued the following emergency helpline numbers for affected families and the general public: 01374-222126, 01374-222722, 9456556431.
[Image: An image of the devastation in Dharali village following Tuesday’s cloudburst. (Photo: @Trend_Pulse7/X)]
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