Rescue operations are ongoing in Uttarakhand’s Harshil and Dharali after devastating flash floods and landslides triggered by a cloudburst earlier this week. Fifty-nine people—including 50 civilians and nine soldiers—are still missing, while five deaths have been confirmed.

Here are the top 10 key updates from the ground:

  1. 274 stranded tourists, including 131 from Gujarat and 123 from Maharashtra, have been rescued from Gangotri and nearby regions, and are being relocated to Uttarkashi and Dehradun.
  2. Rescue plans involve airlifting troops and medics using Army Chinook helicopters from Harshil and Mi-17 choppers from Nelong, since road access is compromised.
  3. Mi-17s are ferrying NDRF personnel and medical teams in and out of affected zones, while a civilian helipad in Dharali remains non-operational.
  4. ITBP helicopters have airlifted 61 people to Matli, with one evacuee requiring immediate hospital care.
  5. Chopper-based evacuations have accelerated relief efforts, particularly as flooded roads block vehicle access. On Wednesday, 190 people were rescued from Dharali alone.
  6. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Matli helipad, met evacuees, and pledged full support from the state.
  7. Rescue teams face tough terrain and unstable weather, relying on sniffer dogs and ground-penetrating radar to find survivors.
  8. Massive mudslides have buried half of Dharali, a popular stop near Gangotri, home to many guesthouses.
  9. BRO Director-General Lt. Gen. Raghu Srinivasan noted four critical landslide points along the Harshil-Dharali stretch, much of which is submerged.
  10. In Harsil Valley, rescue access remains cut off after a 100-meter iron bridge collapsed.