Uttarakhand cloudburst highlights: 11 injured army personnel airlifted to ITBP Hospital in Matli

A portion of a road collapsed at Maniri in Uttarkashi today. Uttarakhand is witnessing massive flash floods and landslides. 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

A 28-member group of tourists, natives of Kerala, who had gone missing after a cloudburst triggered massive mudslides in Uttarakhand, are safe now, family members said. A relative of a Kochi-based couple, who were part of the tour group, told reporters here that Defence sources informed them that all 28 tourists were safe. "The latest information we received from Defence sources was that they are safe, but are still stuck in the bus and cannot go anywhere. Majority of them are above 55 years of age. Even Army personnel are unable to reach where their bus is located," the relative, Ambili N Nair, told reporters.

As many as 11 injured army personnel have been airlifted to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Hospital located in Matli area of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, said police on Wednesday. A devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi district has triggered massive flash floods and landslides, causing widespread destruction in Dharali, Sukhi Top and Harsil areas. In a social media post on X, the Uttarkashi Police wrote, "Harshil, Dharali relief and rescue operations for disaster-affected people are ongoing continuously. 11 injured army personnel have been airlifted to I.T.B.P. Matli."

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.

(Inputs from Manzoor Mir)

The weather department has issued a fresh alert for Uttarakhand, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in the next 18 hours. The forecast also indicates the possibility of intense to very intense spells of rain at isolated locations across the state. According to officials the affected districts may include Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri Udham Singh Nagar and Uttarkashi. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that around 190 people have been rescued from the Dharali area, following a devastating cloudburst that triggered massive flash floods and landslides in the area. "The disaster has completely hit the entire Dharali, and after yesterday's incident, debris has come there in several phases. I went there today and met the people, talked to them and took information about the incident. The disaster destroyed everything. Along with this, until evening, the army personnel have rescued about 190 people from Dharali. They have been taken to safe places. Right now the injured are also being rescued from there and brought to Uttarkashi," he added. 

A 28-member group of tourists, comprising natives of Kerala, including 20 settled in Maharashtra, has gone missing following catastrophic mudslides triggered by a cloudburst in Uttarkashi. Relatives reported that the tourists last made contact as they set out from Uttarkashi to Gangotri, a route that was later hit by deadly landslides and flash floods.

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So far, 15 people have been rescued from Dharali to Bhatwari through helicopter rescue. Two seriously injured soldiers were also airlifted and shifted to the ITBP hospital. The two jawans have been identified as Rifleman Keshav and Rifleman Virendra. 

(Inputs from Anamika Gaur, Abhay Parashar)

The Delhi Assembly today paid tributes to the victims of the flash floods in Uttarkashi. The members also observed a two-minute silence for the victims of the flash floods that struck Uttarkashi on Tuesday.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami arrives at ground zero, the site of Dharali cloudburst and mudslide, where there is significant damage to houses and other buildings.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inquires about the health of an Army personnel, who is being airlifted to a medical facility from Dharali, after an Army camp in the lower Harsil area was hit by cloudburst and mudslide yesterday.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday met the locals and others in Dharali, which is hit by cloudburst and mudslide.

MPs from Uttarakhand - Ajay Bhatt, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Trivendra Singh Rawat, and Anil Baluni - met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today and discussed about the cloudburst in Dharali.  

Rescue operations are underway in Dharali, which was hit by flash floods yesterday. 

Dehradun: Rajesh Kumar, Health Secretary, says, "Following the Uttarkashi disaster, the Health Department is on full alert. Rescue operations will be carried out via helicopter if necessary. A total of 270 beds, including 65 ICU beds, have been reserved in hospitals at Harshil, Bhatwari, Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Coronation Hospital, and AIIMS. We have over 25 ambulances ready at nearby locations. A special team from the Health Department has already reached Uttarkashi, and a high-level meeting is continuously underway in Dehradun. All teams are en route to Uttarkashi for immediate response."

J&K CM Omar Abdullah has expressed his worry on climate change affecting the hilly areas in the country in the wake of the deadly Uttarkashi cloudburst incident.

He says, "This is an imminent danger, you could have seen what happened in Ramban, thankfully only properties got damages, there was no casualty, but the way weather is changing, tree felling happening in forests, mountains are being cut, I feel that we also face this danger. I express regret on what happened in Uttarakhand, we stand with the administration, people, and express our sympathies."

The rescue team has arrived in Dharali via helicopters after the weather improved in the region. 

The Maharashtra government has decided to bring people of the state who are stranded in Uttarakhand. Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has also contacted the Uttarakhand government and said that 47 Maharashtra citizen hare stranded in the hill state.   

BJP MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah says, "The situation is still dire there and it is also raining. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami took an aerial review of the situation. The roads have collapsed which is why rescue teams are also unable to reach the ground zero. Although efforts are made continuously to reach the spot."

After meeting CM Dhami, Mahendra Chauhan, a victim of Dharali cloudburst, says, "CM Dhami has assured that very soon heli services will be started so that people can be rescued from the spot. My sister, her husband and their child have been missing since yesterday. After this incident, I have not been able to speak to them..."

After meeting CM Dhami, a victim of Dharali cloudburst says, "I am from Dharali village and my younger brother and his family have been missing since yesterday. CM Dhami said that we are waiting for the weather to improve so that people can be brought to safer places by airlifting them... CM has assured us that all possible efforts are being made to rescue the people safely."

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami meets the disaster victims of Dharali at Uttarkashi PWD Guest House.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday conducted a field inspection in Uttarkashi. 

Due to a cloudburst and landslides at various places, the Uttarkashi-Harsil road in Bhatwadi has been completely washed out. Road clearing work is currently underway on the Uttarkashi-Harsil road.

NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi says, "Around 150 people have been taken to safe spots. As far as the information, four people have been found dead, and over 100 people are missing. We are still waiting for the confirmation from the local administration... Three teams of NDRF are on the way to the spot."

According to the IMD, very heavy rainfall is expected to continue over Uttarakhand today. 

Visuals from Rishikesh as heavy downpour continues. 

According to news agency PTI, rescuers have retrieved one body from the rubble in flood-ravaged Dharali village. Four deaths have so far been confirmed in the flash flood, which followed a cloudburst.

The NDRF has decided to deploy its first-ever team of cadaver dogs to help locate those feared dead in the cloudburst incident in Uttarakhand. A pair of these specially trained dogs will be airlifted from Delhi to aid in the search efforts after Tuesday's calamity in Dharali village. Besides, three NDRF teams, each comprising 35 rescuers, have been dispatched to the incident site from various locations within the state. Two additional teams are on standby at Dehradun airport, awaiting airlift. Click here to read more. 

On cloudburst in Uttarkashi, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "It is extremely unfortunate and scary and gives a reminder that development cannot come at the cost of nature... Every state, while ensuring development, should consider the environmental challenges and the fury of nature... I hope that every single life lost and injured is adequately compensated and taken care of by the Uttarakhand government."

On cloudbursts in Dharali, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "It is very saddening. Similar incidents happened in Himachal Pradesh and Wayanad, too. We need to come out with a comprehensive strategy for prevention so that such incidents are not repeated."

A devastating cloudburst struck the Himalayan village of Dharali, en route to Gangotri, on Tuesday, unleashing flash floods that barrelled through homes, trees, and vehicles. The sudden deluge trapped around 60–70 people and has claimed at least four lives so far. Click here to check the photos.

Rescue operation continues in Dharali, where a cloudburst was reported yesterday. 

Following instructions from CM Dhami, the state government has reserved beds and served at various places, including Dehradun, Rishikesh and other places in Uttarakhand.

The heavy rainfall has damaged the NH-34 (Uttarkashi–Gangotri axis) in Uttarakhand. Restoration work is underway.

The water-level of River Ganga in Haridwar has increased following heavy rainfall in the region.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday conducted an aerial survey of flash flood-affected areas in Uttarkashi's Dharali.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "10 DSP, 3 SP and around 160 police officials are engaged in carrying out rescue operations... Helicopters of the Indian Army are also ready. As soon as the weather improves, the helicopters will be used for rescue operations. Food packets, a team of doctors have been prepared. The work to restore electricity is also underway. Mobile network is not available in Dharali as of now. We are trying to reach the people. We are putting in efforts to rescue everyone safely."

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday visited the affected areas in Uttarkashi. 

A massive cloudburst in Uttarkashi's Dharali village on Tuesday led to flash floods and widespread destruction, leaving at least four people dead and many missing, including 11 soldiers. Around 130 people have been safely evacuated from the affected area as relief operations continue. However, not a single body has been recovered from the rubble so far. Click here to read more.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "All our agencies, including the Indian Army, ITBP, SDRF, NDRF and locals, are doing the rescue work. 130 people were rescued yesterday. A search and rescue operation is underway. Due to damage to the roads and a bridge, it has become difficult to reach the spot. The Disaster Operations Station in Dehradun is working 24 hours to provide all possible assistance. We are putting in efforts to rescue everyone safely. I want to thank PM Modi for providing every possible assistance. PM Modi took the details of the rescue operation today as well."

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has arrived in Uttarkashi. He will shortly visit Dharali. 

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CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has left for Dharali, which was hit by a flash flood yesterday that led to the death of at least four people.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken stock of the situation in Dharali, which got hit by flash floods yesterday.

On Wednesday, PM Modi spoke to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and assured that the Centre will provide all the necessary assistance to the state government. "CM Dhami told the Prime Minister that the state government is engaged in relief and rescue operations with full readiness," said the Chief Minister's Office.