Eleven Indian Army soldiers are missing after a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst hit the Harsil area of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand on Tuesday. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) confirmed the incident on Wednesday as rescue efforts intensified in the disaster-hit region.
NDRF DIG Mohsin Shahidi said the missing personnel were part of an Army unit stationed in the area. The Army has launched a large-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation, but access remains difficult as the region is cut off from both the north and south due to multiple road breaches and the collapse of a key bridge.
Over 225 Army personnel, including infantry and engineering units, are deployed on the ground for search, rescue, and relief operations. Seven specialised teams are using Reeco Radar near Tekla to trace the missing soldiers. Search and rescue dogs are operating in Harsil, with additional canine units being sent from Remount and Veterinary Centres to strengthen the effort.
Officials said continuous rainfall and the area’s isolation have made the mission extremely challenging. So far, five people have been confirmed dead, 413 have been rescued, and around 100 remain stranded. The cloudburst has caused extensive flash floods and landslides, leading to severe destruction in the Dharali and Sukhi Top areas of Uttarkashi.
