A government-appointed team of experts visited Dharali village in Uttarkashi on Wednesday to evaluate the areas severely impacted by the recent flash floods and landslides.

Expert Inspection in Disaster-Hit Dharali

The inspection team included:

• Shantanu Sarkar, Director, Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Center (ULMMC)

• Dr. D.P. Kanungo, Chief Scientist, Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee

• Ravi Negi, Director, Geological Survey of India (GSI)

• Dr. Amit Kumar, Scientist, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology

• Mohit Kumar, Principal Advisor, ULMMC

These experts conducted on-the-spot surveys, assessing the scale of destruction, the nature of the disaster, and identifying its probable causes.

Immediate Relief for Affected Families

The Uttarkashi District Administration distributed immediate relief cheques to 112 affected families in Dharali.
Following Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s announcement, each family received ₹5 lakh in financial aid to help them recover from losses.

Financial Support from Union Bank of India

A delegation from Union Bank of India met Chief Minister Dhami at his residence, where they donated ₹1 crore for relief operations in Dharali and Harsil.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude, praising the generous support from various organisations toward disaster recovery efforts.

Ongoing Rescue Operations

Authorities are continuing airlift operations to rescue stranded residents from Dharali and Harsil, severely hit by the August 5 flash floods.
Rescued individuals are being transported via helicopter to the Matli helipad, where onward travel arrangements are provided to ensure safe return to their destinations.

Background: The August 5 Flash Floods

On August 5, sudden flash floods struck parts of Uttarkashi district, causing widespread devastation, loss of lives, and destruction of property.
The disaster prompted an immediate government response involving expert surveys, financial aid, and rescue operations.