- Helicopters and transport aircraft are on standby in Chandigarh, Bareilly, and Agra for relief operations.

New Delhi, August 6 (H.S.): Following the cloudburst incident in Uttarkashi, the lower Harsil area has been isolated due to a sudden flood. The Indian Air Force and Indian Army have initiated relief and rescue operations, with transport aircraft arriving in Dehradun to deliver materials. Helicopters are on standby in Chandigarh for further assistance. The area is cut off as several roads and a bridge have collapsed.

Five transport aircraft, including C-295 and AN-32, have transported 114 personnel and 13.5 tons of relief materials from Agra. ALH and Chinook helicopters remain on standby for operations in Bareilly and Dehradun. The Indian Air Force responded quickly after reports of the flooding, activating air force stations for operations, though flights faced limitations due to fog and rain.

The Indian Army is conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, deploying over 225 personnel for search, rescue, and relief. Seven teams are operating near Tekla with Rico radar support, and search and rescue dogs have been deployed in Harsil. Indian Army engineers are assisting with debris removal in Dharali, where a military helipad is operational. Coordination with SDRF has enabled three civilian helicopters to successfully reach Bhattwari and Harsil for evacuations and delivery of supplies.

So far, 70 individuals have been evacuated while over 50 are reported missing, including one JCO and eight soldiers. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) reports significant damage to NH-34 due to heavy rainfall, with a 100-meter stretch washed away at Papadgad and debris blocking roads near Dharali. Despite adverse conditions, the BRO continues to work on repairs, although major road routes near Bartwari, Linchigad, and Gangrani have been obliterated, and the civil heliport in Dharali is closed due to landslides.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar