A devastating flash flood hit an army camp in Harshil, Uttarakhand’s Harshil district, on Tuesday, leaving nine soldiers feared missing. The cloudburst struck at 1:45 pm near the Dharali village area, approximately 4 km from the Indian Army camp.
The Indian Army quickly mobilized 150 personnel to the disaster site within 10 minutes of the incident’s occurrence. Despite being cut off and facing significant challenges, the team continues to operate with unwavering determination.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams evacuating trapped villagers and providing critical assistance on the ground. The rain continued throughout the afternoon and evening, hindering rescue operations.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the situation as “extremely sad and distressing,” emphasizing that relief operations are underway on a war footing. Principal Secretary R K Sudhanshu reported that 40 to 50 buildings are damaged due to the cloudburst, with helicopter services suspended due to bad weather.
The Indian Himalayas are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including cloudbursts and flash floods, which are expected to increase in frequency as climate change intensifies.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/soldiers-missing-after-army-camp-hit-by-flash-flood-in-uttarakhand-army-sources-9025557