Rescue efforts are still underway in Dharali village of Uttarkashi district after Tuesday’s devastating flashfloods and landslides swept away homes and vehicles, leaving many people missing.
On Wednesday, two bodies were found, and around 150 people have been rescued so far. However, search teams are facing major challenges due to continuous rain and blocked roads. Officials say nearly 60 people are still missing.
One of the bodies has been identified as that of 35-year-old Akash Panwar, according to the Disaster Control Room in Uttarkashi.
The disaster was caused by what officials are calling a cloudburst on Tuesday afternoon. The sudden downpour brought massive amounts of mud, debris, and water, burying nearly half of Dharali village.
Read More: Flood fury: Cloudburst in Uttarkashi village, 4 killed
Tourists, Army personnel missing
Among the people missing in the Uttarkashi disaster are 11 Army personnel from the Harsil camp and a group of 28 tourists. Most of the tourists are from Kerala and Maharashtra.
A relative of one of the missing tourists shared, “They said they were leaving from Uttarkashi to Gangotri at around 8.30 am that day (Tuesday). The landslides occurred along that route. We have been unable to contact them since they left.”
The group was on a 10-day tour of Uttarakhand, arranged by a Haridwar-based travel agency. Family members said they have not been able to contact them since Tuesday, most likely due to poor mobile network and dead phone batteries in the affected area.
The Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) confirmed that 51 tourists from Maharashtra who were stranded in the area are safe. Eleven of them are from Nanded, and the rest are from other districts. The Maharashtra government is working closely with SEOC and the Uttarkashi Disaster Management Centre to ensure their safe evacuation, also getting help from Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.
The flashfloods hit Dharali, a popular stop for tourists on the way to Gangotri, where the Ganga River begins. The village, about 140 km from Dehradun, has several hotels and homestays. Many visitors had gathered there for the Har Dudh fair when the disaster hit the region.
Rescue operations underway
Rescue operations are still underway in Dharali, but teams are facing tough conditions. Deputy Inspector General of NDRF Operations, Mohsen Shahedi, said three NDRF teams are on their way but are stuck because of landslides blocking the Rishikesh–Uttarkashi highway. Two more teams in Dehradun are ready to fly out, but poor weather is delaying airlifts.
Over 100 personnel from the ITBP, BRO, and SDRF are already working on the ground.
Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of the 14 Rajputana Rifles, is leading a 150-member Army relief team. Despite their own camp being hit and some of their soldiers still missing, they are pushing ahead with courage and determination, according to Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Manish Shrivastava.
A bridge over the Limaccha River near Gangnani on the Gangotri highway has been washed away, making things harder. More than 200 rescue workers are stuck at Bhatwari, waiting for the route to open.
PM, Chief Minister take stock of situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday and assured full support from the Central Government.
Dhami flew over the affected areas of Dharali and Harsil in a helicopter and met injured soldiers and families of those still missing.
“The rescue work is apace. Teams from the Army, ITBP, and SDRF have reached the spot… It’s a challenging situation as it is still raining there,” Dhami said.
The state government has made arrangements for medicines and food, and 160 police officers have been deployed to help with aid distribution. Three senior officers from the Chief Minister’s office are now on the ground.
“All government agencies, departments, and the Army are working with total coordination. Every life matters to us,” Dhami said. He has asked all officials to stay alert 24/7.
Indian Army helicopters are on standby, ready to be deployed as soon as weather conditions improve.
Weather still harsh, rivers overflowing
Heavy rain continues across Uttarakhand, causing many rivers to swell beyond danger levels. The Mandakini in Rudraprayag, Banganga in Haridwar, and Bhagirathi in Devprayag are all flowing dangerously high, according to the Central Water Commission.
A landslide on Tuesday evening blocked train services from Haridwar to Rishikesh and Dehradun after debris fell on the tracks inside the Motichur range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. A help desk has been set up at Haridwar railway station to assist stranded passengers.
Dharali, located just 2 km from the Army base at Harsil, is still cut off by road. Rescue teams are facing difficult weather and blocked roads as they continue searching for the missing and helping those affected.
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