Search operations for those still missing following the Dharali cloudburst and flash floods continue, even as rescue authorities evacuated close to 400 people in Uttarakhand until Thursday. Many remain
missing following the disaster, which claimed the lives of at least five people.
Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told news agency ANI that a total of 382 people had been evacuated and that operations were underway in three directions.
“Yesterday, we evacuated nearly 382 people. Our operation is going on in three directions. We are evacuating pilgrims stranded in Gangotri, who have come from outside the state. We are restoring road connectivity. Third is clearing the debris and looking for the missing people in the worst-affected Dharali,” he said.
“The listing of the loss to public and private property was also underway,” he said.
The rescue and relief operations continue despite unfavourable weather conditions at various places, thus challenging the deployment of Chinook and Mi helicopters.
UTTARAKHAND CM DHAMI HOLDS MEETINGS
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was in Uttarkashi, supervising the rescue and relief operations.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Dhami also held a meeting with officials at the Disaster Control Room and reviewed rescue and relief operations in disaster-affected areas.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister stated that instructions were given to officials to exercise extra sensitivity, especially towards women, children and the elderly.
He also said that rescue operations were being carried out at a fast pace.
DHARALI CLOUDBURST, FLASH FLOODS CAUSE MASSIVE DESTRUCTION
Uttarakhand has been witnessing heavy monsoon-triggered disruptions, especially in its higher-altitude regions, prompting large-scale evacuation and relief operations led by multiple agencies.
Two cloudbursts on August 5, one in Dharali and another in the Sukhi Top area near Dharali, caused widespread destruction, with Dharali bearing the brunt.
A video of the tragedy showed massive destruction as the river came gushing down onto houses and hotels nearby.
TOURISTS FROM MAHARASHTRA MISSING
The Maharashtra government is in constant touch with the Uttarakhand administration after 151 tourists from the western state were stranded following the disaster in Dharali.
So far, 120 of these tourists have been contacted, and they are reported to be safe at an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar spoke to his Uttarakhand counterpart Anand Bardhan, requesting all necessary assistance in locating the remaining 31 tourists and facilitating their return.
The state’s disaster control room is in continuous coordination with the National Emergency Response Centre, Uttarakhand’s State Disaster Management Authority, the District Control Room in Uttarkashi, and other concerned agencies, an official release stated.
NEPALESE NATIONALS MISSING
At least 13 Nepalese nationals were also missing in the cloudburst-affected Dharali in Uttarakhand.
The Nepalese missing are from Kushe Rural Municipality of Jajarkot district, a statement from Harishchandra Basnet, chairman of Kukshe Rural Municipality, read.
Basnet urged the Nepal government and the Foreign Ministry to immediately make diplomatic initiatives to carry out speedy and effective search and rescue operations for the missing people.
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