The massive multi-agency rescue operation in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district is in full swing following the suspected cloudbursts and flash floods that have wreaked havoc in the region. On Thursday, 87 individuals, most of whom were pilgrims, were successfully airlifted from the Harsil area to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) helipad in Matli, near Uttarkashi.
Over 450 Rescuers Deployed, Hundreds More Await Access
A combined force of over 450 personnel from the Army, ITBP, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and state police are currently on the ground, conducting search and rescue missions. The operations are focused on the Harsil-Dharali region, which has been severely affected by the flash floods along the Kheer Ganga river. Officials have stated that an additional 814 rescuers are on standby, awaiting the clearance of roads to reach the worst-hit areas in Dharali.
According to disaster management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, a total of 274 people have been brought to Harsil from Gangotri and other areas so far. These include pilgrims from Gujarat (131), Maharashtra (123), Madhya Pradesh (21), Uttar Pradesh (12), Rajasthan (6), Delhi (7), Assam (5), Karnataka (5), Telangana (3), and Punjab (1). The rescued individuals are being transported to Uttarkashi and Dehradun, with a Chinook helicopter from the Indian Air Force playing a critical role in the evacuation efforts to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun.
Casualties Confirmed as Search for Missing Continues
An official statement from the Indian Army confirmed three civilian deaths, with over 50 people still missing, according to civil administration estimates. The Army also reiterated that nine of its own personnel, including one JCO and eight jawans, are untraceable.
The rescue and medical teams have been working tirelessly. Nine Army personnel and three civilians have been airlifted to Dehradun for medical treatment. Three critically injured civilians were taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh, while eight others are receiving care at the district hospital in Uttarkashi. So far, two bodies have been recovered from the affected areas.
Meanwhile, road connectivity to Dharali remains a major challenge. Roads are severely disrupted at multiple locations, including Batwadi, Linchigad, Gangnani, and Dharali, but restoration work is underway to clear the routes and allow more ground-based rescue teams to reach the disaster zone.