Uttarkashi Cloudburst: Rescue Ops in Full Swing as Death Toll Rises; Army, NDRF Lead Evacuations

Uttarkashi: Rescue and relief operations are underway on a war footing in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district after a devastating cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides across the region. As of Thursday evening, 70 civilians have been rescued while three civilian deaths have been confirmed by the Civil Administration. Over 50 people are still reported missing.

Among the missing are one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and eight jawans of the Indian Army, who were caught in the floods during active duty. Two bodies have been recovered so far, according to an official statement by the Indian Army.

Helicopter evacuations have been launched in coordination with the Central Air Command. Nine Army personnel and three civilians were airlifted to Dehradun for medical attention. Three critically injured civilians were shifted by ambulance to AIIMS Rishikesh, while eight others are receiving treatment at the District Hospital in Uttarkashi.

The state government is working in close coordination with military authorities. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Dharali to assess the damage and meet with affected residents. Army Commander, Central Command, and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of UB Area are personally overseeing operations on the ground.

Chief of Staff, Central Command, is coordinating with HQ Central Air Command to ensure smooth helicopter logistics and rapid airlifting of personnel and equipment.

In Gangotri, nearly 180–200 stranded tourists are being provided with shelter, food, and medical support by the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Teams are working around the clock to keep them safe while road clearance operations continue.

Action Plan for the Next 24–48 Hours:

• Air Support: Para troopers and medical teams will be airlifted to Harsil using Chinook helicopters.
• Ground Induction: NDRF personnel and additional medics will be transported to Nelong by Mi-17 helicopters.
• Tourist Evacuation: Tourists stranded in Nelong will be evacuated using return sorties from the Nelong helipad.
• Road Access: Efforts are ongoing to restore road connectivity ahead of Uttarkashi and Tekla to facilitate quicker ground movement and relief distribution.