UTTARKASHI, UTTARAKHAND — Four helicopters have been deployed to airlift people stranded in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district following flash floods and landslides that struck the region earlier this week. The disaster, which has claimed multiple lives and caused widespread destruction, has prompted a large-scale rescue operation.
On the fifth day of rescue efforts, a total of 287 people were airlifted to safety on Saturday, August 9. According to Uttarakhand Police, 170 individuals were taken to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s (ITBP) Matli helipad, while 107 were flown to the airstrip at Chinyalisaur.
Official data indicates that over 1,000 people have been evacuated so far from parts of the disaster-hit Dharali area, which remains cut off due to mudslides and flash floods that occurred on Tuesday. The district administration has confirmed four deaths, and 49 people are still reported missing.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority’s helicopters are conducting sorties to rescue people who have taken shelter in various locations. An Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter also transported a generator set to a relief camp, as power supply to Dharali and its surrounding areas was severely impacted by the flash floods.
In addition to the aerial rescue, efforts are underway on the ground to restore connectivity. A Bailey bridge is being constructed on a war footing at Limchigad near Gangnani to improve road access to the affected areas. However, the Gangotri highway is blocked at several points, hampering the transportation of advanced equipment needed to search for the missing.
The rescue and relief operations involve a multi-agency effort, with the Army, ITBP, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police working in coordination.
