Hours after massive flash flood in the Kishtwar district, another flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall struck the upper reaches of Thathri town in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Tuesday, damaging several houses, shops and vehicles.
Troops of the Rising Star Corps of the Indian Army undertook the operation to save the lives of civilians.
Around 310 pilgrims from different states stranded at Gangotri shrine area and other locations were rescued and airlifted to safe locations on Thursday as Uttarakhand Chief Minister personally monitored the rescue operation.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has expressed profound grief over the tragic cloudburst in the Dharali region of the Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, calling it "deeply distressing and heart-wrenching”.
The arrival of rescue teams was hampered by the debris blocking Gangotri highway leading to Dharali at Netala Gameshpur near Sukhi Tal.
This sudden development has posed a significant threat to the lives of villagers, prompting authorities to evacuate residents to higher and safer locations.
Lt Col Manish Shrivastava, PRO (Defence), Dehradun, had earlier stated that 11 personnel were initially feared missing, but two of them were later rescued safely. Following the mudslide, the Army camp in Harsil was cut off from the Dharali market area.
The army rescue columns have also established makeshift crossings connecting Dharali, Mukhva and Harshil.
Two children were killed and one was rescued after they were washed away in a flash flood that hit the Sialsui area of Kalakote in the Rajouri district early on Thursday morning.
Several individuals, including farmers and cattle herders, were stranded on river islets and had to be rescued in an operation coordinated by local authorities.
