Uttarkashi Cloudburst: 190 Rescued, 5 Dead as Relief Operations Continue in Dharali | Latest Updates
A cloudburst in Uttarkashi triggered a massive rush of water and debris through Dharali village and adjoining areas, leaving five people dead and injuring many others.
Following the cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district that caused flash floods on Tuesday and devastated the high-altitude village of Dharali, officials have so far rescued at least 190 people, including 11 Army personnel, while five fatalities have been confirmed.
The flash floods, triggered by a cloudburst over the Kheer Gad region, unleashed a torrent of water and debris across Dharali and surrounding regions. Dharali, an important stop on the way to Gangotri, suffered severe destruction. Numerous houses, homestays, eateries, and hotels were either damaged or swept away by the floods.
This unfortunate disaster has once again highlighted the growing concern over the rising frequency of natural calamities in Uttarakhand. Rescue operations are being led by the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Wednesday that 190 people had been rescued from Dharali in Uttarkashi. In an official statement, the Uttarakhand Police mentioned that 11 Army jawans and two local residents were airlifted to safety. Two dead bodies have been recovered from the area, and one has been identified.
As of now, at least five individuals have died, and several others have sustained injuries due to the flash flood that struck Dharali on Tuesday. CM Dhami mentioned that he is camping at the site to directly oversee the rescue activities.
Rescue efforts have been impacted due to adverse weather conditions and continuous rainfall along the Gangotri route. As per a statement from the Indian Army, more than 225 soldiers, including teams from the infantry and engineering units, are engaged in search, rescue, and relief operations.
Several people are still missing, as multiple roads have been blocked due to landslides and debris flows. Among those missing is a group of 28 tourists from Kerala.
Rescuers have recovered two bodies from the wreckage in the flood-hit Dharali village. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Members of Parliament from Uttarakhand on Wednesday at the Parliament House in the wake of the cloudburst incident.
