The Army, Air Force, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF, Police and District Administration are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the disaster-affected Dharali-Harsil area of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand.
The government says that the rescue of the stranded people will be done rapidly when the weather clears. So far, 372 people have been safely transported from the disaster-affected areas to ITBP Matli Camp and Jolly Grant, Dehradun helipad with the help of helicopters. Chinook and MI-17 airlifting resources are being used in this operation.
District Magistrate Prashant Arya said that relief material, drinking water, medicines and food grains are being delivered to the people stranded in the affected areas through helicopters. He said that community kitchens are being arranged for those whose residential buildings and businesses have been damaged due to the Dharali disaster.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, two bodies have been recovered so far in the natural disaster, while about 16 people, including 09 military personnel, are missing. State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the ongoing disaster relief and rescue operations in the district from the disaster control room in Uttarkashi late last night.
During this, the Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to restore road connectivity on priority basis and restore electricity, water, communication and other basic facilities by running a war-footing operation in Dharali-Harsil area.
On the other hand, due to heavy landslides about one kilometer ahead of Pipalkoti in Chamoli district, the administration has halted Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib Yatra. Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said that 30 meters of the highway has collapsed and efforts are being made to open the blocked route.