Uttarkashi flash floods: Around 200 people still trapped

Lucknow: More than 250 people were rescued from Dharali, where flash floods triggered by a cloudburst flattened and swept away dozens of houses, on Wednesday even as nine Army Jawans were reportedly missing. A massive search and rescue operation was underway in the affected areas.

According to sources, choppers were deployed to carry out rescue operations and transport heavy machinery that are to be used for opening the roads which were blocked at several places following landslides.

Reports said that 125 Army officers and jawans, 83 ITBP officers and jawans and more than 100 labourers and BRO officials were working on war-footing to open the blocked roads.

Sources said that around 200 people were still trapped in Dharali village and the rescuers were trying to build a pathway on the 25 ft high debris to rescue them. Efforts were also underway to construct a temporary bridge to bring them to safety.

While 135 people were rescued from Dharali, 100 others were rescued from nearby places and 35 people were rescued from Harshil.

Sources said that 11 Army jawans were missing after the tragedy on Tuesday but two were later rescued. Nine are still missing. The Army camp at Harshil suffered extensive damage in the flash flood.

One more body was recovered from the affected village on Wednesday taking the death toll to five.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the administration was doing everything possible to rescue all the trapped people. ‘’Rescue operations are hampered owing to closed roads and a damaged bridge,’’ he said. Dhami undertook an aerial survey of the affected areas.

Reports said that Uttarkashi-Harshil road was washed away at many places following the flash floods and landslides.

Five persons were killed and 50 others missing as flash floods triggered by a cloudburst swept away homes leaving a trail of destruction in Dharali Kheergard village in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

The cloudburst triggered a flash flood in the Kheerganga river which flowed along the village. Videos which went viral on social media platforms showed huge waves of water hitting the village and destroying the houses.

The video also showed the people trying to run to safety as the water from above hit the houses. The screams of the people could also be heard in the videos.