Uttarakhand is experiencing heavy rainfall, prompting Red and Orange alerts in several districts. Schools in nine districts have been closed as a precautionary measure. Heavy rainfall has been occurring since this morning in areas including Bageshwar and Kotdwar. In Uttarkashi, a devastating flood in the Khir Ganga River, triggered by a cloudburst in Dharali village, has caused widespread destruction. Rescue operations are underway, with the administration fully mobilized.
The cloudburst in Dharali caused the village to be decimated. Hundreds of houses and hotels were buried in debris and washed away in just 34 seconds. Four people have died, and over 50 are reported missing. Authorities indicate the death toll may rise. SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, and army teams are engaged in rescue operations. Over 130 people have been rescued so far. The government has released 20 crore rupees for relief, rescue, and repair work.
The State Police Headquarters reported the rapid deployment of senior police officers and special police forces for disaster relief in Uttarkashi. This includes 2 IG, 3 SP, one Commandant, 11 Deputy SPs, and 300 police personnel.
Cloudbursts also occurred in Harshil and Sukki. Several army personnel are reported missing in Harshil. The army’s base camp has also been affected by the rain and floods. Lieutenant Colonel Manish Srivastava reported that 11 soldiers are feared missing in the flood. Rescue operations are hampered by heavy rain and disrupted connectivity, but the army is actively involved in its operations.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Manish Srivastava, Colonel Harshvardhan, the Commanding Officer of 14 Rajrif, is leading the relief and rescue efforts following the Dharali disaster. His team of 150 soldiers is working on this challenging mission. Despite their unit’s base being affected, and with 11 soldiers missing, the team is working with great courage and determination. He stated that 20 people have been rescued.
Amidst the rescue and relief operations, heavy rainfall continues in several areas of Uttarakhand, including Bageshwar and Kotdwar. Schools are closed in nine districts of the state due to the Red Alert and Orange Alert for heavy rainfall.
Schools will be closed today in Dehradun, Nainital, Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Champawat, Pauri, Almora, and Bageshwar districts. The order includes all educational institutions from classes 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centers.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that phone, internet, and towers have been significantly damaged in the disaster-affected area. Special Disaster Relief Units of PAC and IRB have been deployed. To expedite relief and rescue operations in Uttarkashi, a special disaster relief unit (E Company) of the 40th Battalion PAC and C Company of IRB-II, Dehradun, with a total of 140 personnel, have been sent.
Additionally, 160 police personnel and essential equipment have been deployed from Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, and Tehri to the affected areas.
Considering the disaster, beds have been reserved in district hospitals of Uttarkashi, Tehri, and Dehradun, as well as at Doon Medical College and AIIMS Rishikesh. The health department has been put on alert after the incident, and doctors’ leaves have been suspended.
Furthermore, the administration is deploying machinery around the clock at all landslide zones. However, delays are being faced due to ongoing challenges on the roads, affecting senior district officials.
On the other hand, roads blocked by landslides on the Uttarkashi-Harshil route are being cleared with the help of JCBs.
Approximately 30 meters of road near Papadgad on the Gangotri Highway has collapsed, completely cutting off contact between the Harshil and Dharali areas and the district and tehsil headquarters.
It is believed that the rain in Uttarkashi has taken a severe form due to a disturbance originating from the Mediterranean Sea. The pattern of the disaster in Uttarkashi was similar to the devastating floods in Kedarnath in 2013. Both events were caused by a western disturbance from the Mediterranean Sea colliding with the Himalayas.
