Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday met and motivated rescue personnel in Uttarkashi before their deployment to areas ravaged by a recent cloudburst and intense rainfall. The team has been dispatched to conduct relief and rescue operations in some of the worst-hit regions.
CM Dhami interacted with the disaster response units, offering words of encouragement and support before flagging them off to the affected zones. His visit underscores the state’s urgency in responding to the natural disaster that has disrupted lives and infrastructure in multiple districts.
Meanwhile, in Chamoli district, the Badrinath National Highway has been blocked near Pipalkoti due to debris falling from the hillside, severely affecting movement along the crucial route. Chamoli Police confirmed that clearance operations are underway to restore traffic.
Visuals emerging from Bhatwari en route to Dharali in Uttarkashi show extensive damage to roads and infrastructure, underlining the scale of destruction caused by the cloudburst. The challenging terrain and roadblocks are complicating the ongoing rescue operations.
Rescue efforts remain in full swing. On Wednesday, around 190 people were successfully rescued from Dharali after flash floods and landslides struck the region. A coordinated effort involving the Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and local volunteers is underway to locate missing individuals and deliver aid.
As per the Indian Army’s update at 3 pm on Wednesday, three fatalities have been confirmed, while 50 people are still reported missing. Over 225 Army personnel, including infantry and engineering units, are deployed on the ground. Combat engineers have also reached Dharali to help clear debris and restore mobility.
Chief Minister Dhami, who visited the disaster-hit area on Wednesday, reiterated the commitment of both the central and state governments to assist the victims. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured full support and all necessary assistance for the relief and rehabilitation operations.
