Dharali Cloudburst Triggers Rapid Emergency Response in Uttarakhand

Dehra Dun: In the wake of a devastating cloudburst that hit Dharali village in Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, the Uttarakhand government has launched a full-scale emergency health and rescue response under the direct supervision of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

The Chief Minister is actively monitoring the situation and is in constant contact with top officials to ensure that help reaches affected residents quickly. Acting on his orders, Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has dispatched a team of specialist doctors to the disaster-hit area.

The medical team includes surgeons, anaesthetists, physicians, and orthopaedic specialists, and is being led by the Director of Health Services for the Garhwal Division, who has been appointed the nodal officer for medical relief efforts.

To prepare for any potential surge in casualties, all major hospitals across Uttarakhand have been instructed to reserve beds for the injured. In addition, the state has placed a ban on leave for all medical officers and health staff to ensure full readiness.

Hospitals have also been directed to maintain an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines, surgical tools, and medical equipment.

The state-run 108 ambulance service is now on high alert in and around Dharali. Additional ambulances have been dispatched from nearby districts to support the emergency response, ensuring timely evacuation and medical care for victims.

A 24/7 emergency control room has also been set up in Uttarkashi to coordinate rescue and medical operations. This control room will act as the central hub for communication and issue resolution during ongoing relief work.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar emphasised that strict action will be taken against any official found negligent during this critical time. “This is a humanitarian crisis, and every health worker must act with complete dedication and sensitivity,” he stated.

Rescue operations have also been intensified with the deployment of 211 personnel from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with essential machinery. Authorities have issued evacuation alerts for low-lying areas and are continuously monitoring the situation.

To further strengthen relief operations, IAS officers Abhishek Ruhela, Meghraj Singh Bisht, and Gaurav Kumar have been assigned to oversee coordination on the ground. In addition, the 40th Battalion of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams from Haridwar and Dehradun have been rushed to the affected areas.

Ten senior police officers and 160 personnel from Haridwar, Dehradun, Pauri, and Tehri have also been deployed to provide ground-level support. All teams have been instructed to carry essential supplies, tents, and medical kits as part of their relief operations.

The entire effort is being carried out swiftly under the direction of senior civil and police authorities to restore normalcy as soon as possible.