By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
UTTARAKASHI, 6 Sep: The monsoon season has caused widespread devastation across several hill districts of Uttarakhand with Uttarkashi emerging the worst-hit. The region had recently suffered the Dharali disaster, followed by a landslide at the Army camp in Harsil. Major roads in the district were severely damaged by subsequent landslides. Soon after, debris from a stream in Syana Chatti had created a lake on the Yamuna river, submerging houses, shops and even a school. Now, a fresh challenge has surfaced in the district.
However, fresh reports indicated that two new lakes have formed near the mouth of the Telgad river in Harsil following a major landslide that occurred on the hill last Thursday. According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the lakes are not large in size as of now. The first images were captured by a military drone, after which the administration initiated prompt follow-up measures. Acting on instructions, SDRF teams are making efforts to reach the site for an on-ground inspection and to correctly assess the situation.
The massive landslide that struck on Thursday morning brought huge amounts of debris and boulders crashing down, slowing the flow of the Telgad river. The deafening noise of the event spread panic in Harsil and nearby villages. An SDRF team initially attempted to survey the area with a drone, but poor weather conditions prevented success. On Friday, however, when the weather briefly cleared, fresh attempts were made, yet strong winds prevented proper drone operations. Though the Army, which had deployed a high-tech drone for security purposes, managed to capture clear photographs and videos. These revealed the formation of two small lakes at the site of the landslide.
The development has raised fears of worsening safety risks in Harsil, which is already battling the aftermath of an earlier disaster. On 5 August, the overflowing Telgad river had carried away nearly 15 feet of debris, causing nine army personnel to go missing. Their camp was severely damaged, and so far, only the body of one soldier has been recovered. The debris from that incident had also blocked the Bhagirathi river, leading to the formation of a lake stretching nearly one to one-and-a-half kilometres. The rising waters submerged the Harsil helipad and around 100 metres of the Gangotri highway. As relief measures progressed, machinery was moved to the site after the Gangotri highway became partially operational between Dabarni and Songad, and work to drain the lake formed on the Bhagirathi is going on.
The SDRF has confirmed that two lakes near the Telgad landslide site are visible in the drone imagery captured by the army. The SDRF officials emphasised that their size is not threatening at present, and since yesterday, the Telgad river has been flowing relatively calm, albeit with reduced volume. Despite this, the SDRF teams are determined to attempt to reach the lakes to examine the situation closely. Meanwhile, a request has been placed with the administration for the deployment of another high-tech drone to strengthen ongoing monitoring and relief efforts.
