Indian Army Ramps Up HADR Operations in Cloudburst-Hit Dharali Region

New Delhi : The Indian Army, in close coordination with other authorities continues to intensify Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the cloudburst-affected area of Dharali, near Harsil in Uttarakhand.

Current Situation

The region remains cut off due to multiple landslides and road breaches. Civilian and military teams are working round the clock to rescue stranded people, provide relief, and restore connectivity.
• Road Access: Severely disrupted at multiple locations – Bartwari, Linchigad, near Harsil, Gangrani, and Dharali. Repair work is underway.
•Helipad Status:
•Military helipad at Harsil is operational.
•Helipad at Nelong is operational and connected by road to Gangotri, enabling convenient movement of tourists.
•Civil helipad at Dharali remains non-functional due to a mudslide.

Troops and Resources Deployed
•Over 225 troops on ground, including engineers, medical teams, and rescue specialists.

•One Reeco Radar team at Tekla; another Reeco Radar being inducted for further deployment.
•Search & Rescue Dogs: deployed.

Air Support
•Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters are staged at Jollygrant and likely to commence induction of personnel and evacuation of civilians from today, weather permitting.
•Five civil helicopters from Sahastradhara have been operating between Matli-Bhatwari-Harsil for rescue operations in coordination with SDRF.
•An Ad-hoc Aviation Base is being set up at Matli Helipad (ITBP) to expedite induction/de-induction operations.

Rescue and Relief
•Civilians Rescued: 70 so far.
•Casualties: Civilians: 3 confirmed dead; over 50 missing (as per Civil Administration). Military: 1 JCO and 8 Jawans reported missing.
•Evacuations:9 Army personnel and 3 civilians evacuated by helicopter to Dehradun.
•3 critically injured civilians shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh by ambulance.
•8 civilians admitted to District Hospital, Uttarkashi.
•2 dead bodies recovered.

Notable Developments
• Chief Minister of Uttarakhand visited Dharali.
•Army Commander Central Command and GOC, UB Area are on ground overseeing operations.
•Chief of Staff, Central Command in coordination with HQ Central Air Command for seamless helicopter operations.
•Approximately 180-200 tourists stranded at Gangotri are being provided food, shelter, and medical support by Indian Army and ITBP.

Next 24-48 Hours: Action Plan
•Para troops and medical teams to be airlifted to Harsil via Chinooks.
•NDRF personnel and medics to be inducted to Nelong by Mi-17 helicopters.
•Tourists to be evacuated from Nelong helipad on return sorties.
•Efforts underway to open road ahead of Uttarkashi and Tekla.