Centre monitoring Uttarkashi landslide situation closely

The Centre is closely monitoring the situation in Uttarkashi. There have been several alerts regarding thunder, rainstorm and landslides by the central agencies during the first week of August in many states and Union Territories including Uttarakhand, officials told ET.

The officials said, "All necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected population. The National Disaster Response Force has mobilised three teams from Manera, Batkot and Dehradun to the cloudburst site in Uttarkashi. On Tuesday evening, two more NDRF teams were expected to be airlifted from Shashtradhar airstrip."

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police deployed along the India-China border has been pressed into service and have sent a 16-member team to the cloudburst site to assist in the rescue operations while another team has been rushed from Matli in Uttarakhand. Many of those injured have been provided accommodation and treatment at ITBP posts north of Dharali, added officials.


SDRF, NDRF, district administration, ITBP, NDRF and other related teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations on a war footing.

The cloudburst has also impacted the Army, with several soldiers reported missing from a camp in Harsil. Officials said that search operations are on but 8-10 soldiers are reported to be missing. Despite damage to its camps and infrastructure, the Army is engaged in rescue and relief operations. Officials said the Army mobilised 150 personnel who reached the disaster site within 10 minutes and commenced rescue operations. Several of the injured are being treated at Army medical facilities in the region.

Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and ordered the dispatch of seven rescue teams.

- With Agency Inputs