The Army column from field formations located in Garhi Cantt in Dehradun was detailed for carrying out rescue and relief operations at Nilkanth, Bairagarh and Dyuli areas of Pauri district following Friday’s heavy rains and landslides.
According to Army sources, liaison and detailed co-ordination was carried out with the State Emergency Operation Centre, Dehradun throughout the night of Friday and the army column was launched early morning on Saturday.
The column on crossing Rishikesh and moving towards Garur Chatti encountered a number of landslides and the vehicle column was held up. The civil administration was approached to clear the landslides at the earliest using JCBs with the Army column assisted in the same. Meanwhile, some troops moved on foot from Phul Chatti towards Bairagarh following the tough route which was also blocked due to several landslides.
The local populace, civil administration and national disaster response force teams were reassured on seeing Army’s presence and the column assisted the civil administration in carrying out rescue and relief efforts.
Another column by foot had started from Rishikesh towards Nilkanth in the morning of August 17 for rescuing humans and ensuring their safety.
Meanwhile, based on another requisition by the civil administration at laksar in Haridwar district, a flood relief column from Roorkee Centre moved to laksar on August 16 evening wherein it was reported that the villagers are marooned due to flood like situation arisen due to overflow of a canal. The column is assisting the civil administration in restoring the situation.
The situation is being closely monitored in conjunction with the State administration and additional columns of Army are on standby for any kind of eventuality, army sources said.