Uttarkashi: At least 49 people remain missing as rescue operations in flood-hit Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand entered their fifth day on Saturday, officials said. The flash floods and landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall on Tuesday, destroyed homes, swept away residents and livestock, and cut off access to several villages.
By Friday evening, 729 people had been evacuated from affected areas, including 154 airlifted from Harsil to Matli and 121 to Chinyalisaur, according to official figures. The district administration has so far confirmed five deaths, The Indian Express reported.
Four helicopters of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority were deployed on Saturday morning to assist in evacuations. Rescue efforts are being coordinated by a joint team of the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police and local agencies. According to The Indian Express reports, the SDRF has also deployed a canine unit to locate those possibly trapped under debris.
Uttarakhand Director General of Police Deepam Seth said clearer weather on Saturday had allowed operations to pick up pace. “We are trying to evacuate the remaining passengers and locals today. That is why we started operations early this morning. The stretches of Bhatwari and Ganganani routes will be restored soon,” he told ANI.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday assured that the state government was committed to providing quality medical care to the injured and affected. “The health check-up of every rescued person is being conducted, and appropriate treatment is being provided as per their needs,” he said.