Over 60, including several soldiers, missing as flash floods wreak havoc in Uttarkashi

An Armed Forces camp in the lower Harsil area was also struck by a flash flood soon after, with officials saying around 10 soldiers are reported missing.

According to officials, around 1:50 pm, the water level in the Kheer Ganga river rose, reportedly due to a cloudburst, and the Dharali market area was pummeled with tonnes of debris. The incident took place in the commercial area while the villagers reside slightly away from the flood-affected region. Visuals showed people trying to flee as a wall of sludge and debris washed them away.

The IBEX Brigade of the Indian Army, camping at Harsil, rushed to the spot in 10 minutes and began rescue operations, said defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel Manish Srivastava. So far, 20 people have been rescued.

Col Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of the 14 Rajputana Rifles, is leading 150 personnel in rescue and relief operations. The operation was cut off from the unit base as it was also hit by a landslide. The forces have rescued 20 persons so far. Sources said that sniffer dogs are being requisitioned for the operation. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police said their units have moved 80 villagers to safety.

The state government said the floods were due to a cloudburst, though the IMD data shows moderate rainfall of 8 mm in Harsil from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr Rohit Thapliyal, a scientist at IMD, said that the data does not indicate a cloudburst. “The region has received moderate rainfall and the data from the area does not fulfill the criteria for a cloudburst, that is 100 mm or more per hour. Only a probe will reveal the reason for the floods,” he said.

The secretary of Disaster Management, Vinod Kumar Suman, estimated that the incident was caused due to heavy rainfall at a higher elevation. “One The sludge in the area has rendered the operation difficult,” he said.

The rescue and relief operations involved the Army, the State Disaster Response Force, the Fire Department, the local administration, and the police.

Given the increased water levels in Khiragad, Sukhi Top, Awana Dhyagad and a lake overflow in the Bhagirathi River near Ala, the Maneri, Joshiara, and Dharasu barrages, as well as the Tehri Emergency Operations Centre, have been activated. Police have issued alerts to people living along riverbanks in Bhatwari, Maneri, Gangori, and Uttarkashi to move to safer locations.

The state government said that the Indian Air Force has been contacted for aerial support. “Beds have been reserved at nearby government hospitals and at AIIMS, Dehradun. A sufficient number of ambulances have been mobilised. Residents in at-risk areas are being evacuated to safer locations,” said the statement. Additional beds have been reserved at AIIMS Rishikesh and Doon Hospital.

Fifty NDRF personnel have been dispatched from Delhi and 15 from Dehradun. Thirty SDRF personnel have been sent from Gangotri, and 45 from Dehradun. Thirty ITBP personnel have also been deployed for relief and rescue operations.

The State Emergency Operation Centre has requested the Indian Air Force to deploy two MI helicopters and one Chinook helicopter. Two helicopters of UCADA are also ready for rescue operations. Aerial support will be activated as soon as weather conditions permit.

SDM Bhatwari, Shalini Negi, said that various points on the route to Dharali were hit by landslides, obstructing their path. Due to road blockages and bad weather, rescue teams are facing challenges in reaching the incident site. Road-clearing operations are in progress. “As soon as the weather improves, rescue teams will reach the site via air and road routes,” said the statement.

The SDRF has dispatched equipment such as victim location cameras, thermal imaging cameras, RR saws, diamond chain saws, carbide-tipped chain saws, chipping hammers, drones, Pelican lights, Dragon lights, and medical supplies to the site.

– With Amrita Nayak Datta, New Delhi