Army camp, helipad, road… everything submerged, after the devastation of Dharali, the lake in Harshil became a new disaster

The situation remains serious after the disaster in Dharali village of Uttarkashi- PHOTO CREDIT-PTI

The situation in Dharali village of Uttarkashi remains serious after the disaster. The area has been cut off as all roads have been broken or washed away. Teams of Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF have rescued more than 931 people so far, while about 250 people are still stranded.

Uttarkashi Dharali flash floods update: The situation is still serious after the disaster in Dharali village of Uttarkashi. All the roads leading to Dharali have been broken and washed away. Teams of Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF are continuously engaged in relief and rescue work. So far, more than 931 people have been evacuated safely, and this number is reaching almost 1000. However, about 250 people are still stranded in Dharali and Harshil areas, whose evacuation work is going on.

People reaching safe places

Those who have been rescued are first being brought to Harshil and Matli, then from there they are being sent to Dehradun. The rescue of tourists is almost complete, but the evacuation of laborers and local people who were working in Dharali and Gangotri continues.

Road route completely disrupted

Machines have not been able to reach Dharali as the roads have been completely washed away in many places. At some places, a 4–5 km path has completely disappeared. It may take several days to connect them. At present, essential goods and machines are being brought by air with the help of the Air Force.

Government help and decisions

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced that the families of those killed in the disaster will be given an assistance amount of Rs 5 lakh. The owners of completely damaged houses will also get a help of Rs 5 lakh. Apart from this, a three-member committee has been formed for the rehabilitation and livelihood improvement of the affected villages, which will submit its report in a week.

Harshil’s condition

According to sources, Harshil now looks like a ‘ghost town’. Hotels, guest houses and houses are empty. Electricity and communication system has been restored recently. Local farmers are worried because their apple orchards are ready, but due to the closure of the roads, the crop is not able to reach the market.

Rescue workers amid demolition and restoration work -Photo- PTI

According to sources, Harshil has become a big base camp at this time. All the hill operations that are going on are being conducted from here. A large number of workers are coming from Gangotri. This morning, more than 300 people have been evacuated from here and sent to Matali, then Uttarkashi and then Jolly Grant.

The evacuation of tourists is almost complete. Now mainly those workers and labourers are being evacuated who were working in Uttarkashi and Harshil. People stranded in Dharali and Gangotri are also slowly reaching here and their evacuation is going on.

The condition of the road is very bad. At many places, the roads have completely disappeared. It is very difficult to cross the valley in a five-kilometer long stretch. At many places, the flood has erased all traces of the road. These routes have been erased. It may take more than 4–5 days to connect these routes. This is why an air passage has been prepared here. Essential goods, generators and machines (like JCB) are being transported here through the Air Force. Given the inaccessibility and devastation of the area, this is the most effective means of relief and rescue at the moment.

The fear of the devastation caused on 5th August in Dharali of Uttarkashi has not ended yet and now due to the effect of this disaster, the danger of a lake has arisen in Harshil. The temporary lake formed in Harshil valley is creating fear. The helipad of Harshil has become a huge lake. The helipad is not even visible anywhere. Only lake water is visible everywhere.

Rescue work in Dharali

A kind of temporary dam has been formed due to the accumulation of debris on the Bhagirathi river near Dharali. Here big JCBs and excavators are engaged in making a path and removing the debris. After the incidents of army camps being washed away and soldiers going missing, dog squads and scanner machines are being used to search for them.

Reservoir being formed due to water accumulation

The crisis is not completely over yet amidst relief and rescue. The debris that came from the path that devastated the area. A reservoir is being formed due to the accumulation of water of the Alaknanda river there. Which is indicating danger amidst this crisis. The whole area has become a swamp where it is difficult to even walk.

People stranded in Dharali are being rescued -Photo Credit- PTI

The rescue team faces two challenges, firstly to normalise the situation here which has been completely devastated and on the other hand the challenge of saving lives continues. The army camp in Harshil has also suffered heavy damage. Efforts are continuously being made to normalise the situation there.