Cloudbursts and landslides have caused widespread devastation in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the phone regarding this disaster and inquired about the situation. He expressed his condolences for the deceased and assured all possible assistance from Uttar Pradesh. CM Yogi stated that the Uttar Pradesh government stands with Uttarakhand in this time of crisis and will fully cooperate in relief efforts.
Several deaths have occurred due to the cloudburst in Uttarkashi, and reports of heavy destruction are emerging. State and central agencies are engaged in relief and rescue operations on a war footing.
Army and SDRF Undertaking Relief Work on a War Footing
Following the devastating landslide caused by a cloudburst in the Khirgarh area of Dharali, the 14th RAJRIF unit of the Army has joined the relief efforts. According to the Defence Public Relations Officer, 150 soldiers led by the unit's Commanding Officer, Colonel Harshvardhan, are carrying out relief operations in the affected areas. Although the unit's base has also been severely affected by the disaster and 11 soldiers are feared missing, the team is engaged in relief work with full dedication and courage. So far, more than 20 people have been safely evacuated, and additional troops have also been dispatched to the site.
Meanwhile, the SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) has also become rapidly active. According to Commander Arpan Yaduvanshi, three teams immediately reached the spot upon receiving information. So far, 70 to 80 people have been moved to safe locations in the Gangotri area. In addition, a paramedical team, dog squad, and a relief team equipped with modern equipment have also been dispatched to the scene. In total, another team of 80 to 85 SDRF personnel will join the relief efforts by late night or the next morning. The search and rescue operation is proceeding rapidly.
Precautionary Holiday in Schools
The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rain in the state. In view of this, a precautionary holiday has been declared in all schools from classes 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centers in Champawat, Pauri, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The administration has appealed to people to be vigilant during bad weather, stay in safe places, and avoid unnecessary travel.
So far, a total of more than 130 people have been safely evacuated in the Uttarakhand disaster, but many people are still missing. Relief and rescue work is continuously underway, and the administration is closely monitoring the situation.
