Uttarakhand flash flood: 9 Army men feared missing after mudslide hits Harsil base near China border; 150 troops join search

DEHRADUN: At least nine personnel of the Indian Army were feared missing after a mudslide hit their base camp in Harsil valley near Indo-China border in Uttarkashi district around 220km away from Dehradun on Tuesday afternoon. Two others, who too were earlier missing, were later safely rescued.

The mudslide struck after around 45 minutes of the disaster in Dharali village - about 4km from the Army camp in Harsil valley.


Elaborating, public relations officer (defence), Dehradun, Lt Col Manish Srivastava said that the missing personnel were attached to the 14 Rajputana Rifles which were stationed at the Army camp.

Army base camp affected after being hit by mudslide

The unit’s base camp was adversely affected after being hit by a mudslide in which nine are feared missing. A search and rescue operation has been launched, even as around 150 other personnel of the unit are currently involved in the primary rescue operation led by commanding officer of the unit, Col Harshvardhan in Dharali,” said Lt Col Srivastava.

Another Army officer, privy to the details, told TOI, “As per the preliminary information, there are no officers among those missing.”

“That assessment would be done later as the first priority is to find those missing and take necessary steps to ensure others are safe in case of a similar emergency amid the ongoing heavy rains,” said the officer.

The Army base in Harsil is largely aimed at ensuring required security arrangements and to cater to any military emergency at the India-China border which is 20-25 km away from there. It is located in close proximity to a camp of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Earlier in the day, commanding officer of Joshimath-based Ibex Brigade, Brig Mandeep Singh Dhillon, while briefing about the ongoing Dharali rescue operation being carried out by the Army personnel from Harsil base, said that it was hit by a mudslide. He had, however, not mentioned any missing personnel in the incident.

“Despite this, the Army is determined to carry out the rescue operation at Dharali after reaching within 10 minutes of the tragedy. Due to the close proximity to Harsil camp, they were the first to reach there and initiate a search and rescue operation,” said Brig Singh.


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