Uttarkashi: As part of the ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Harsil and Dharali, specialised Indian Army canine teams have been deployed to assist in search tasks in coordination with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Zevar radar, and reconnaissance radars.
The six canines currently on ground are:
• Opna – 4 years.
• Jansi – 3.5 years.
• Sara – 4.5 years.
• June – 7 years.
• Rahi – 8 years.
• Hazel – 4 years.
Each canine works in cycles of 30–35 minutes followed by a 10-minute break, sustaining up to three hours of search at a stretch, after which they rest for 1.5 hours and are fed. These highly trained dogs can detect scents up to a depth of 15–18 feet.
The canine teams have been actively engaged in search operations for the past three days, significantly contributing to locating individuals and supporting overall rescue efforts in the challenging terrain.