Uttarkashi Rescue Day 6: Over 1,000 Evacuated, Search for Missing Continues with Radars
Rescue and relief operations entered their sixth consecutive day in the disaster-hit Dharali region of Uttarkashi, where a coordinated multi-agency effort under “Operation Zindagi” has successfully evacuated over 1,000 people, including all stranded tourists. As efforts shift towards recovery, teams are now using advanced technology like ground-penetrating radars to locate individuals still missing after a devastating cloudburst and flash floods claimed five lives.
The Indian Army, state government, and other agencies have been working tirelessly since the disaster struck. The Army confirmed that a massive airlift operation involving 33 helicopter sorties has evacuated 195 civilians, while nearly 200 tourists were safely escorted through treacherous landslide-prone zones.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed that all injured individuals have been moved to medical facilities. An aerial corridor has been established between Uttarkashi and Harsil to streamline the delivery of aid and personnel. While basic services like water and electricity have been partially restored in areas like Harsil and Dharali, connectivity remains a major challenge, with a five-kilometer stretch of road completely washed away and adverse weather intermittently hindering air operations.
The focus of the operation is now twofold: restoration and search. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Indian Army engineers are in the final stages of completing a crucial Bailey bridge at Limchigad to reconnect the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway.
A temporary 330-foot cableway is also being constructed to provide passage where roads are submerged. Simultaneously, an intensive search for the missing continues. “Today, we are concentrating on finding individuals buried under the debris,” said Brigadier M S Dhillon, explaining the use of ground-penetrating radar to detect human or metal objects beneath the rubble.
In response to the crisis, the state government has formed a three-member committee to assess the damage and formulate a rehabilitation plan, with a preliminary report due within a week. The Chief Minister has also announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and for those whose homes were completely destroyed, along with six months of ration supplies for affected families.
