Diplomat Correspondent
Dharali : DD, The Indian Army has launched a swift and coordinated Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation in the wake of a devastating cloudburst near Dharali, close to Harsil in Uttarakhand. The region is currently cut off from both north and south due to multiple road breaches and a collapsed bridge.
Current Deployment & Action
Troops Deployed: Over 225 Army personnel including infantry and engineering teams are on ground for search, rescue, and relief tasks.
- Engineer Teams: Combat engineers have reached Dharali to aid in clearing debris and restoring mobility.
Specialised Resources
7 teams are operating with Reeco Radar near Tekla
Search & Rescue Dogs are deployed at Harsil; more en route from Remount and Veterinary Centres.
Air Support
Military helipad at Harsil is operational.
3 civil helicopters launched from Sahastradhara in coordination with SDRF have successfully landed at Bhatwari and Harsil for casualty evacuation and relief material delivery.
Chinook, Mi-17, ALH helicopters are on standby at Jolly Grant, Chandigarh, and Sarsawa for troop and material airlift – awaiting tasking clearance.
Casualties & Evacuations
Civilians Rescued: 70 persons evacuated to safety.
Civilian Casualties*: 03 confirmed fatalities, over 50 persons reportedly missing (as per Civil Administration).
Army: 1 JCO and 8 Jawans missing.
Evacuation by Air : 3 casualties evacuated in civil helicopters.
Damage & Accessibility
Key road stretches near Bartwari, Linchigad, and Gangrani have been washed away, severely affecting movement.
Civil helipad at Dharali remains non-functional due to a mudslide.
The Indian Army remains committed to assisting local administration in rescue and relief efforts under challenging terrain and weather conditions.DD