Nine days after a devastating flash flood swept through Dharali village in Uttarkashi district, destroying nearly half the settlement, two German Shepherds, Phantom and Coco, have become a ray of hope for families still waiting for a clue about their loved ones who went missing after the disaster.
The disaster demolished buildings in the busy market area and washed away many residents. More than 60 people are still missing, believed to be buried under layers of debris. Braving heavy rain, biting winds, risky mountain paths, and swift rivers, the two trained SDRF dogs keep trying to find any signs of life throughout the day in the area.
Eight-year-old Phantom uses his skills and experience to search for people under thick mounds of rubble. Search operations in the area are still ongoing, officials confirmed.
NDRF Assistant Commandant R.S. Dhapola said ground penetrating radar (GPR) is also being used to locate people trapped beneath the debris. This device can detect objects up to 40 metres underground. Initial readings suggest that victims could be buried eight to ten feet deep, under several feet of accumulated debris, making the clearing process extremely difficult.
Teams are digging at spots where the radar has indicated possible human presence. District Magistrate Prashant Arya visited Harshil on Thursday to inspect a site where water had collected. He assured there was no immediate threat but stressed the need for continuous clearing of debris blocking water flow.
Due to the swampy conditions, heavy machinery cannot be used. Workers and local resources are being deployed to carry out the cleaning manually. The DM instructed officials to stay alert, send regular updates, and ensure all preparations are in place to handle any emergency.
Relief materials are being distributed to affected families. However, road access to Gangotri is expected to take three more days to restore. The pilgrimage will remain closed until then. Landslides at Dabrani, Songad, Loharinag, Harshil, and Dharali have kept the route shut for the past nine days.
Also Read: Dharali tragedy leaves locals grieving, speechless
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