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 & Actions
•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. Updates will follow as the situation evolves.
