Army's Ibex Brigade Leads Daring Rescue in Dharali Floods

On 2025-08-07T06:30:52+00:00, the Army's Ibex Brigade, based in Harsil, has been leading the rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of the Dharali flash floods. The brigade, under the command of Col Harshvardhan, was the first to respond to the tragedy, reaching the affected area within just 10 minutes.

Since then, the Ibex Brigade has been shouldering the bulk of the rescue work. Around 150 personnel from the Harsil camp have been conducting a relentless search and rescue operation, saving several villagers and providing them with urgent medical aid. According to a senior Army officer, the brigade has managed to rescue around 70 people from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday evening.

The rescue efforts have been particularly challenging due to the adverse weather conditions, lack of power, and disrupted mobile connectivity in the area. With road connectivity to Dharali snapped due to landslides, erosion, and damaged bridges, the troops have been working with bare hands and handheld tools to clear the muck brought by the flash flood. Despite being deprived of sleep and proper meals, their priority remains to save as many lives as possible.

Tragically, the Ibex Brigade's own camp in Harsil was also hit by a mudslide following the Dharali incident. A simultaneous operation is now underway to rescue nine personnel who had gone missing from the camp. However, this setback has not hampered the brigade's determination to continue the rescue efforts in Dharali.

The Ibex Brigade has a long history of playing a crucial role in rescue and relief operations in the Uttarakhand hills. Earlier this year, they were the first to reach and rescue those trapped in a massive avalanche that struck a Border Roads Organisation camp in Mana. The brigade also played a key role during the Jyotirmath land subsidence crisis, helping with evacuation and ground support.