Rescue operations are in full swing in disaster-hit Dharali and Harsil in Uttarkashi district, where search teams are racing against time to find survivors. Over the past two days, 650 more people have been evacuated to safety, though authorities fear around 300 people may still be stranded. Joint teams from the Army, ITBP, NDRF, and district administration are engaged in round-the-clock relief efforts, deploying dog squads, drones, and ground-penetrating radars to locate trapped individuals. Mobile connectivity has been restored in the Harsil valley, improving coordination on the ground.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been stationed in Uttarkashi for the past three days to oversee the relief work, confirmed that 400 people were rescued on Thursday and another 250 on Friday. He assured that all remaining stranded individuals would be evacuated soon. However, damaged roads between Dharali, Harsil, and Uttarkashi are slowing the operations. Authorities are working to restore electricity in affected areas through generator support, while the restoration of mobile and internet services is expected to accelerate relief coordination.
The SDRF reported that nine soldiers and seven civilians remain missing, though locals believe the actual figure may be higher. Several under-construction hotels in Dharali, employing workers from Bihar and Nepal, were hit by the disaster, and many labourers remain unaccounted for. In the aftermath, the Uttarakhand government plans to strengthen pre-disaster preparedness. IT and Urban Development Secretary Nitesh Jha has formed a scientific committee comprising experts from IIRS-ISRO, Wadia Institute, the Meteorological Department, and other agencies to develop early warning and response strategies. The committee, chaired by Uttarakhand Space Applications Centre Director General Prof. Durgesh Pant, has been tasked with submitting its report within a week.
Dharali Cloud Burst: Rescue Efforts Continue in Dharali and Harsil, Army Camp Damaged
