Uttarkashi: One more body was recovered, and over 150 people were rescued from the flood-ravaged mountain village of Dharali on Wednesday as search operations resumed under difficult weather conditions following a devastating cloudburst the previous afternoon. The torrential rains had triggered flash floods and landslides, cutting off access routes and burying large parts of the village in slush and debris.
Landslides have blocked key roads leading to Dharali, where dozens remain trapped, and numerous homes and vehicles were swept away by surging waters. Eleven Army personnel from a nearby camp in Harsil are among those reported missing.
Officials from the Uttarkashi Disaster Control Room identified the recovered body as that of 35-year-old Akash Panwar. So far, four deaths have been confirmed in the disaster, which struck this ecologically fragile Himalayan region.
At least half of Dharali lies buried under a mass of mud, rubble, and water. The village, located en route to Gangotri — the origin point of the river Ganga — is a well-known tourist stop, home to several hotels and homestays.
Rescue efforts face severe logistical hurdles. According to Mohsen Shahedi, Deputy Inspector General (Operations), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), three teams are en route but have been unable to reach the village due to continuous landslides blocking the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi highway. Two additional NDRF teams were scheduled to be airlifted from Dehradun, but persistent bad weather has made aerial sorties impossible.
Ground rescue operations are being carried out by combined teams of the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), who have so far rescued over 150 individuals. Shahedi added that at least four deaths and around 50 missing persons have been reported, though the actual number may be higher.
The Gangotri National Highway is blocked at multiple locations. A joint team of over 200 personnel is currently stranded in Bhatwari, awaiting road clearance. Meanwhile, a crucial bridge over the Limaccha River at Gangnani was washed away by the flash flood, further delaying relief teams headed towards Dharali.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to assess the situation and assured full central assistance. Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in Dharali and Harsil and chaired a review meeting at the State Emergency Operation Centre in Dehradun.
“The rescue work is progressing steadily. Army, ITBP, and SDRF teams are on site. A road is blocked and senior district officials are on their way. The situation remains challenging due to continuous rain,” Dhami told PTI Videos. He said that provisions have been made for medicine and food distribution, with 160 police personnel deployed to monitor relief activities. Three nodal officers have also been appointed from the Chief Minister’s Office to coordinate operations.
“All lives are precious to us,” Dhami stated, adding that officials in Uttarkashi have been instructed to remain on high alert around the clock. He further noted that government departments and the Army are working in full coordination to manage the crisis.
Over 100 personnel from the ITBP, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and SDRF are engaged in rescue operations, with reinforcements expected to join soon, said State Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli. The Indian Army has kept its MI-17 and Chinook helicopters on standby for search and evacuation missions, pending clearance of weather conditions.
Locals believe the number of missing individuals could be significantly higher, as many had assembled in Dharali for the Har Dudh fair when the disaster struck. Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of the 14 Rajputana Rifles, is leading a team of 150 soldiers in the relief efforts. Despite the camp being hit and several soldiers unaccounted for, the Army continues its operations with full commitment, said Defence spokesperson Lt. Colonel Manish Shrivastava.
Widespread heavy rainfall continues across Uttarakhand, with several rivers overflowing. The Central Water Commission reported that the Mandakini in Rudraprayag, Banganga in Haridwar, and Bhagirathi in Devprayag are flowing above danger levels.
In a related incident, a landslide occurred late Tuesday evening along railway tracks passing through the Motichur range of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, halting train movements between Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. Authorities have set up a help desk at Haridwar railway station for affected passengers.
Rescue operations remain ongoing under extreme conditions as efforts continue to locate the missing and restore connectivity to the isolated village.
With PTI inputs