By Arun Pratap Singh
Dharali (Uttarkashi), 6 Aug: Rescue and relief operations in Dharali, Uttarkashi district, continued on through the day today following the devastating natural disaster that struck the region yesterday. The army, along with the NDRF, SDRF and Uttarkashi police, continues to be actively engaged in the effort. So far, five persons have been confirmed dead and approximately 190 rescued, while a significant number are still missing. The army camp in the region has also sustained damage and several personnel are yet to be accounted for. The disaster-like situation, caused by the cloudburst over Dharali village, has emerged as a formidable challenge for the administration, prompting close coordination across departments.
Official sources claim that at least 15 to 20 persons may be missing after the disaster including 8 Army Jawans. However, unofficial sources claim the actual number of missing people could be higher. The operations are ongoing in, both, Harsil and Dharali, with eleven injured army jawans already airlifted to ITBP Matli. Five ITBP teams comprising 130 personnel are currently deployed in Dharali, and reinforcements of over 100 personnel are en route to strengthen the relief mission.
Despite incessant rainfall, rising waters in the Bhagirathi River, and difficult terrain filled with loose debris, forces from the army, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, the Disaster Management Department, and local police are reported to be working relentlessly. The marsh like muddy condition created by the flood in the Kheer Ganga River has made locating and evacuating trapped individuals a highly perilous task. Nearly 200 persons are believed to be stranded in Dharali, making access and rescue fraught with risk.
To tackle the situation, army and ITBP personnel are constructing a temporary bridge to reach the isolated village. This critical pathway will facilitate evacuation of the trapped individuals and enable supply delivery amidst the ongoing crisis.
It may be recalled that Dharali, a prominent halt on the Gangotri yatra route, was struck by the disaster yesterday afternoon, leaving its market and surrounding areas completely devastated. As rescue teams continue their search, four bodies have been recovered so far while efforts persist on a war footing to trace the missing and stabilise the situation.
