Air support has been activated, with the military helipad at Harsil now operational. The Army stated, “Three civil helicopters launched from Sahastradhara in coordination with SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) have successfully landed at Bhatwari and Harsil for casualty evacuation and relief material delivery.” The Indian Air Force has placed Chinook, Mi-17, and ALH helicopters on standby at Jolly Grant, Chandigarh, and Sarsawa for potential troop and material airlifts, pending clearance.The Army confirmed, “70 civilian persons have been evacuated to safety. There have been three confirmed civil fatalities, over 50 persons reportedly missing (as per Civil Administration).” Among the missing soldiers is a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), with three casualties already evacuated via civil helicopters.Critical road stretches near Bartwari, Linchigad, and Gangrani have been washed away, severely disrupting movement, while the civil helipad at Dharali remains non-functional due to a mudslide. Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, the Indian Army continues to support local authorities in ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
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