Over 300 pilgrims evacuated from flood-hit Dharali

A total of 307 pilgrims have been evacuated from Gangotri to Mukhwa by the ITBP rescue team as part of the rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali, where six people are confirmed dead and more than 50 people are still missing.

ITBP sources said apart from 307 pilgrims, a group of 25 stranded elderly pilgrims (23 from Gujarat and two from Uttarakhand) were also moved from Gangotri to ITBP's Nelong Post.

The rescued pilgrims later departed for Harsil helipad along with the team at 1145 hrs on Thursday, officials said. Food and necessary assistance were provided to the rescued at Nelong Post. Besides, an ITBP medical team also provided medical aid to stranded civilians at Gangotri.

Owing to a cloudburst, the floodwaters from the Kheerganga swallowed large tracts of Dharali town on August 5, leading to hundreds of people getting buried alive under tonnes of mud, while several were washed away.

The floods also hit hotels and residential buildings in Dharali town, situated 8,600 feet above sea level, where video footage recorded by residents showed massive sludge gushed through the area and swallowed everything in its way, including people and homes.