"Efforts are underway to rescue all those affected": Uttarakhand CM Dhami on Dharali-Harsil disaster rescue ops

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], August 10 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while briefing the reporters about the rescue operations in disaster-affected areas of Dharali-Harsil, informed that efforts are ongoing to rescue all those affected in the disaster.
The Uttarakhand CM informed that the government has provided immediate relief by providing Rs 5 lakh, whereas electricity and telephone services in the affected areas have been restored.
"All teams are coordinated in the rescue operations, and efforts are underway to rescue all those affected by the disaster. The helicopter services are rescuing the locals...Electricity and telephone services have been restored in all the affected areas. Relief material is being provided. We have given immediate relief by providing Rs 5 lakh," Pushkar Singh Dhami told reporters.
He said road services will be restored by August 12 or 13, and a committee has been constituted to assess the damage caused by the disaster so that relief can be provided to the affected people.
Dhami stated that the committee will visit Dharali to inspect the situation, noting that the government is in touch with various organisations that will inform the government regarding disasters like cloud bursts, which have been happening over the years.
"The road services will be resumed from Tuesday to Wednesday...A committee has been constituted to assess the damage caused by the disaster so that relief can be provided to the affected people...This committee will visit Dharali to inspect the situation, and we are also in touch with various organisations that will provide us with information regarding why these disasters like cloud bursts are happening over the years, so that we can be prepared for them...", Dhami said.
Earlier today, aiming to fasten rescue and relief operations, Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) authorities have prepared a detailed action plan to conduct search and rescue operations by coordinating with other agencies in the disaster-hit Dharali area of Uttarkashi district.
The Uttarakhand government has appointed Inspector General of Police, SDRF, Arun Mohan Joshi, as Incident Commander and Commandant, SDRF Arpan Yadav as Deputy Incident Commander.
According to a release, arrangements for real-time information exchange and joint resource use were also ensured between all agencies, so that the speed and effectiveness of the operation can be maximised.
In addition, under the direction of the Inspector General of Police, SDRF is also running community kitchens for the disaster-affected people. Fresh food has been provided to more than 1615 people from 07 August 2025 to date through these kitchens set up in Dharali and Harshil area with the support of the local administration. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are being distributed to the affected families by the team at the scheduled time every day.
SDRF personnel themselves are playing an active role in the food distribution process - in the tasks of cooking, packing, distribution and material management. Also, special attention is being paid to the standards of hygiene and cleanliness so that no health problem arises.