Dharali rescue op on; 1,000 airlifted

Helicopters made multiple sorties on Saturday to evacuate people from areas surrounding the disaster-hit Dharali in Uttarkashi as rescue operations entered the fifth day with the thrust on improving road connectivity and supplying food packets to the affected people.

SDRF’s dog squad walked through dilapidated buildings swamped with rubble in search of those who went missing after the devastating mudslide on Tuesday tore through Dharali bazar, razing hotels and homestays that came in its way and leaving behind a trail of destruction.

By Saturday evening since the start of evacuation on Wednesday, more than 1,000 people were airlifted from around Dharali and Harsil.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced an immediate assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed and those who lost their homes in the Dharali disaster.