’40 to 50 buildings were damaged and that helicopters could not be deployed due to poor weather conditions’
Nine army personnel are reportedly missing after flash floods triggered by a cloudburst hit a camp in Harshil, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday.
The cloudburst occurred around 1:45 pm near Dharali village, located about 4 km from the Indian Army camp. It caused devastating floods in the Kheer Ganga River catchment area, severely impacting the Army unit and surrounding areas.
An official update on the relief efforts noted that despite being cut off and suffering damage to their base, the team remains active in rescue operations.
“Though 11 personnel are feared missing, the unit continues to operate with unwavering determination. Their resilience reflects the true spirit of the Indian Army — selfless, steadfast, and always ready to serve the nation,” the statement read. Additional Army columns have been deployed to support rescue efforts.
Dharali, a popular stop on the way to Gangotri, hosts numerous hotels and homestays. Locals reported that the intense cloudburst led to a sudden rise in water levels, causing extensive damage.
Within 10 minutes of the incident, the Army mobilised 150 personnel to assist at the disaster site. Teams immediately began evacuating stranded villagers and providing emergency aid, though continuous rain through the afternoon and evening hindered rescue operations.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the situation as “extremely sad and distressing” and said that relief efforts are being carried out on a war footing with the involvement of the SDRF, NDRF, district administration, and other agencies.
Principal Secretary R K Sudhanshu stated that 40 to 50 buildings were damaged and that helicopters could not be deployed due to poor weather conditions.
