News Brief
Uttarakhand: Fifth Day Of Rescue In Dharali Flash Flood Sees Two Bodies Recovered, Over 60 Still Feared Trapped
Uttarkashi Flash Flood (X/@adgpi)
Rescue efforts in Uttarakhand’s Dharali village entered their fifth day on Saturday, with two bodies recovered so far and more than 60 people feared trapped, The New Indian Express reported.
On Friday (8 August), the Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were joined by trained canines from the Indian Army and SDRF.
A total of 1,056 personnel are engaged in rescue, repair and evacuation in and around Dharali in Uttarkashi district.
Four life detectors, a victim locator camera and an exothermic cutting device have been deployed to locate survivors under rubble and collapsed buildings.
By 6 pm Friday, 154 people had been evacuated from Harsil to Matli and 121 from Harsil to Chinyalisaur, bringing the total evacuees to 729.
P S Pokhriyal, chief medical superintendent at the District Hospital in Uttarkashi, said nine patients are undergoing treatment, including seven Army personnel and two civilians.
Army personnel Sonu Singh and Harshvardhan recounted being swept away by the flood while stationed near Harsil.
Singh said he clung to a tree to survive, while Harshvardhan climbed a rock before being rescued by colleagues.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) official Rajendra Singh announced plans to install Doppler Radars in Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Auli for better weather forecasting.
SDRF dog squad, including Hazel, Jansi, Opanna, Sarah and Rahi, continues searching for survivors, while road blockages hinder movement of heavy rescue machinery.
