Daijiworld Media Network- Dehradun
Dehradun, Aug 7: In a large-scale rescue operation, 274 tourists stranded due to flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand’s Gangotri region have been safely evacuated, even as 59 people remain missing. Among those rescued, 131 are from Gujarat and 123 from Maharashtra. The rescued individuals are being shifted to safer zones in Uttarkashi and Dehradun.
Rescue teams, battling harsh weather and rugged terrain, have now turned to aerial operations for faster relief. The Indian Army has deployed Chinook helicopters from Harshil helipad, while Mi-17 choppers are operating out of the Nelong base to transport NDRF personnel and medics to remote areas. The Mi-17s are also returning with stranded tourists. Meanwhile, the Dharali civilian helipad remains non-operational.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also joined the rescue mission. By 10 am Thursday, ITBP helicopters had airlifted 61 people to Matli. One critically ill person was rushed to a hospital for urgent treatment. On Wednesday, 190 individuals were rescued from Dharali, one of the worst-hit villages.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Matli helipad and met rescued persons. He assured them of full support and thanked emergency personnel for their relentless efforts. Dharali, a key stop on the pilgrimage route to Gangotri, has been heavily impacted, with officials reporting nearly half the village buried under mudslides. The area, known for its hotels and homestays, now lies in ruins.
To locate survivors under the debris, the administration is deploying ground-penetrating radar systems and sniffer dogs. Rescue teams are sifting through thick layers of mud in hopes of finding the missing.
Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Director-General of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), informed that four major landslide points have been identified along the 96-km stretch between Harshil and Dharali. “Most parts of the road are under water. Restoration work is underway... we may revive the old road or carve out a new one,” he said.
In Harsil Valley, rescue teams have yet to make contact due to the collapse of a 100-metre iron bridge, cutting off the region completely. Efforts are on to reach those stranded and ensure their safe return.
The scale of devastation has brought into focus the vulnerability of high-altitude regions during monsoon season. Authorities are on high alert as operations continue.