Helicopter Rescue Airlifts Hundreds Amid Uttarakhand Floods, Landslides

Severe floods and landslides triggered by a sudden cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Dharali village have led to massive destruction, including the loss of four lives and numerous people missing, including nine army personnel. Rescue operations, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and involving over 225 army personnel, are focusing on evacuating around 400 stranded individuals, using helicopters such as the Chinook and Mi-17 due to damaged roads and infrastructure. The Indian Air Force and Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority are coordinating extensive airlift efforts amid challenges posed by destroyed communication networks and difficult terrain. Families anxiously await news at helicopter bases like Matli, while rescuers use both machinery and manual labor to clear debris and reach survivors. Experts link the increasing frequency and intensity of such natural disasters in the Himalayan region to climate change. Despite obstacles, authorities remain committed to completing evacuations swiftly and restoring essential services.