Uttarkashi Flash Floods: Army Steps Up Rescues with Matli Helipad Base

speedy Summary

• The Indian Army is intensifying disaster relief operations in Dharali,near Harsil,Uttarakhand,following flash floods caused by a cloudburst.
• Over 225 personnel, including engineers and medical teams, are actively conducting rescue and relief efforts under challenging conditions.
• Drones are being used for aerial surveys to locate stranded individuals in inaccessible areas.
• Road connectivity at Bartwari, Linchigad, Gangrani and Dharali remains obstructed; airlifting operations have commenced using Chinook helicopters stationed at Dehradun and an ad-hoc aviation base set up at Matli Helipad.
• Recco radar teams, search dogs and five civilian helicopters from Sahastradhara are supporting operations; approximately 70 civilians have been rescued so far. Relief materials are being transported via helicopter to affected regions.
• confirmed fatalities include three civilians; over 50 remain missing along with nine army personnel after damage to an Army post was reported.
• Approximately 180-200 tourists stranded at Gangotri have received food, shelter and medical aid through coordinated efforts of the Army and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police).
• Central Command leadership is closely monitoring the situation onsite with Lt Gen Sengupta ensuring seamless coordination across rescue agencies like SDRF (State Disaster Response Force), local police & ITBP.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The swift deployment of resources by the indian Army highlights their operational efficiency in handling large-scale disasters like Uttarakhand’s flash floods-a recurring challenge in mountainous terrain due to topographical vulnerabilities even amid unpredictable weather events such Cloudbursts preparedness linking risks systemic-impact alignments