Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has directed that a team of geologists be sent to Dharali in Uttarkashi and Pauri to investigate the causes of recent disasters. The team will submit its report within a week. Additionally, IG SDRF Arun Mohan Joshi has been appointed as the nodal officer for search and rescue operations, coordinating efforts between the Army, ITBP, NDRF, Air Force, and other agencies on the ground to ensure swift completion of rescue missions.
Bardhan instructed that affected areas in the Harsil Valley be divided into sectors for more efficient relief and rescue operations, with each sector officer ensuring timely execution of responsibilities. He also ordered the expedited construction of a Bailey bridge to restore road connectivity, with BRO receiving full support from state agencies. According to PWD Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, work on the bridge is progressing rapidly and will soon be operational for traffic.
With most air rescue operations now complete, the focus has shifted to restoring infrastructure in the disaster-hit regions. Helicopters from UCADA, as well as Chinook and MI-17 aircraft, have played a vital role in evacuating people and transporting personnel and equipment to remote areas. Meanwhile, Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman confirmed that the Directorate of Geology and Mining has been officially requested to send two separate three-member teams to both Dharali and Pauri, with their findings due in a week.
