By Shishir Prashant PrashantNews
Rescuers on Thursday mounted efforts in the disaster-hit Dharali in Uttarakhand even as nearly 274 people were evacuated from different parts of Uttarkashi including Gangotri.
However, confusion still persisted over the exact number of people who were missing in the August 5 disaster at Dharali.
“People from other states stranded in the disaster affected areas are being brought safely to Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun with the help of Chinook helicopters. A total of 274 people stranded in the disaster affected areas have been rescued/evacuated so far,” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said.
The army engaged in the rescue operation said nearly 70 persons have been rescued so far from Dharali. On the other hand, the state government claimed that nearly 190 people were rescued. A multi-agency rescue operation was continuing on the war-footing at Dharali with rescuers using all modern gadgets, drones and sniffer dogs to find any survivor in the huge debris of the calamitous floods.
An army update on the current situation in Dharali, Gangotri and other affected areas
Road access severely disrupted at Bartwari, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangrani & Dharali; restoration efforts underway.
• Military helipad at Harsil & civil helipad at Nelong operational.
• Dharali civil helipad remains non-functional due to mudslide.
Troops & Resources Deployed
• Over 225 Indian Army personnel, including engineers, medical staff & rescue teams are on ground to further intensify the rescue & relief operations.
• A Search Radar team has been deployed at Tekla to locate those persons missing under the mudslide debris.
• Search & rescue dogs being used to locate missing persons.
Rescue & Relief Operations
• Over 70 civilians rescued so far.
• Evacuation: Airlifting of critically injured to Dehradun and AIIMS, Rishikesh underway.
• Around 200 stranded tourists at Gangotri being provided medical aid and food.
