NCP-SP Working President and Baramati MP Supriya Sule on Wednesday took to X (formerly Twitter) and informed that 24 residents of Manchar in Pune have been stranded in Uttarakhand after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides in Uttarkashi. Sharing their contact details, she urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to intervene and help rescue them.
"Around 24 citizens from Manchar, Pune, Maharashtra, are stranded in Uttarakhand due to the recent cloudburst. Their families are extremely distressed as there has been no contact with them for the past 24 hours. Requesting @pushkardhami and @ukcmo to kindly intervene and help rescue them at the earliest," she wrote.
For the unversed, a cloudburst led to flash floods in the high-altitude villages of Dharali on the way to Gangotri on Tuesday, with several houses damaged or swept away in the raging waters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep condolences to the people affected by the cloudburst. He prayed for the well-being of the victims and their families. He also spoke with Dhami to obtain detailed information about the situation and the ongoing relief efforts.
"I express my condolences to the people affected by this tragedy in Dharali, Uttarkashi. Along with this, I pray for the well-being of all the victims. I have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami and obtained information about the situation," PM Modi posted on X.
At least 60 people are said to have gone missing, but the number is likely higher, as many had gathered for the Har Dudh fair in Dharali village when the tragedy struck. The missing include 11 soldiers, Defence spokesperson Lt. Col. Manish Shrivastava said.
Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of 14 Raj Rif, is leading the relief and rescue operations with a 150-soldier team. Despite its soldiers going missing and its base being hit, the team is working with full courage and determination, Shrivastava added.
Meanwhile, Army tracker dogs, drones, and earthmoving equipment have been deployed for evacuation and to provide essential supplies since Tuesday. Besides, Army and Air Force helicopters are assisting in providing essential supplies and medicines.
