Flash floods bury Uttarakhand's Dharali under debris tall enough to swallow a 3-storey building
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In the wake devastating flash floods near Gangotri, rescuers in Uttarkashi are confronting scenes of devastation on a scale rarely seen in the region.Dharali village now lies beneath a blanket of sludge and boulders stretching half a kilometre wide, with debris piled so high — up to 50 feet — that it could engulf a three-storey building, ToI reported.By Thursday morning, two bodies had been recovered, while 16 others — nine Army personnel and seven civilians — remained unaccounted for. Officials on the ground warn the real toll could be higher. Around 400 personnel from the Army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF are engaged in the rescue effort.'This is no ordinary operation. We're talking about debris as high as the rooftops,' said Arun Mohan Joshi, IG (SDRF), describing the damage as 'unprecedented in scale.'NDRF commandant Sudesh Kumar Drall said the sheer weight and spread of the rubble had slowed progress.'We've deployed sniffer dogs to locate those possibly trapped beneath the rubble. Local residents are helping us identify spots where people were likely present during the flash flood, so we can focus our search efforts more effectively,' he told ToI.Experts believe clearing Dharali could take 'several months.' Access remains limited as villages such as Jhala, Mukhba and Harsil are partially cut off, with the highway blocked at six points. A bridge near Gangnani — swept away in the torrent — has yet to be replaced.Six helicopters from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority flew 85 sorties on Thursday between Harsil and Matli, evacuating stranded residents. The Indian Air Force's Mi-17 helicopter carried out one sortie, a Chinook flew two, while the Cheetah and ALH helicopters completed four and one sorties respectively.In Delhi, the National Disaster Management Authority reviewed the situation in a meeting chaired by member Rajendra Singh, with the Army, Air Force, BRO, IMD, ITBP and NDRF in attendance.Singh instructed state officials to closely monitor a newly formed lake in upper Harsil and have a joint Army-state team assess the risk and ensure controlled discharge of water.The Border Roads Organisation has also moved to restore connectivity. 'Our teams are in mission mode to launch a Bailey bridge at Limchigadh, where a 30m-long bridge was washed away, cutting off access to Dharali, Mukhba and nearby villages,' said BRO DG Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, who inspected the site on Thursday.
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News18
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IAF Airlifts 123 From Flood-Hit Uttarakhand, Deploys Chinooks, Mi-17s For Relief Ops
Last Updated: Severe flash floods hit Uttarakhand's Harsil-Dharali valley. The Indian Air Force deployed helicopters, rescuing 123 civilians and delivering 4 tonnes of relief supplies. As severe flash floods ravaged Uttarakhand's Harsil‑Dharali valley, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has intensified its ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in flood-affected regions of Uttarakhand, deploying multiple assets to aid stranded civilians and restore essential services. The mission involved deploying Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH helicopters, resulting in the successful rescue of 123 civilians and the delivery of 4 tonnes of essential relief supplies. The coordinated airlift not only brought people to safety but also ensured the rapid deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to critical locations. In a crucial step to re-establish communication in isolated regions, a specialised telecom unit was airlifted and deployed, swiftly restoring vital connectivity to the affected zones. #Indian Air Force Continues #HADR ops in #Uttarakhand. Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH helicopters of #IAF rescued 123 civilians, inducted NDRF teams, and delivered over 4 tons of critical supplies. A special telecom unit was airlifted, swiftly restoring vital communication links to… — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 8, 2025 The IAF's swift and efficient response highlights the vital role of the armed forces in national disaster management, especially in challenging terrains like Uttarakhand, where road access remains severely disrupted. Uttarakhand has been witnessing heavy monsoon-triggered disruptions, especially in its higher-altitude regions, prompting large-scale evacuation and relief operations led by multiple agencies. Two cloudbursts on August 5 — one in Dharali and the other near Sukhi Top close to Dharali — triggered widespread devastation, with Dharali being the worst affected. A video of the tragedy showed massive destruction as the river came gushing down onto houses and hotels nearby. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Fresh ‘heavy rainfall' alert poses new challenges in Dharali
Dehradun: A fresh weather alert has triggered renewed concern in Uttarkashi's flood-battered Dharali village, where rescue and relief efforts are already racing against time. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy rain across several districts, including Uttarkashi, over the next 24 hours, officials fear that worsening weather conditions could hamper operations in the coming days. The rain could also trigger fresh landslides in vulnerable areas in the hills, the regional meteorological centre said in its advisory. Based on the Met alert, the State Emergency Operation Centre issued a warning to all district magistrates on Friday, stating: "Most places in the state are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall in the next 24 hours, with moderate to heavy rainfall expected at some locations during the evening/night." Senior scientist at regional meteorological centre, Rohit Thapliyal, told TOI: "The monsoon is going to remain active over Uttarakhand till Aug 10, with bouts of heavy showers expected at isolated places in the state, including Uttarkashi, during the period." Rescue efforts in Dharali, where a massive flash flood triggered by a cloudburst earlier this week flattened homes and swept away infrastructure, are still largely dependent on air support. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Private Jet - The Prices May Surprise You! Private Jet I Search Ads Learn More Undo With roads leading to the village buried under debris and multiple stretches along the Gangotri highway still blocked, helicopters have been the only way in or out. On Friday, MI-17 and Chinook helicopters were grounded post-afternoon due to low visibility — highlighting how vulnerable operations remain to changing weather. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started reconstruction of a Bailey bridge at Limchigad near Gangnani. The bridge was washed away by a swollen local stream early on Wednesday. Over 90 sorties have so far been flown by MI-17s, Chinooks, Cheetahs and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) to evacuate stranded villagers and drop essential supplies. But any disruption in air movement could leave teams and locals stranded again, with rains increasing the threat of fresh landslides in the already fragile terrain. Officials said they are closely monitoring the weather conditions considering that the next 48 hours will be critical. Amid the challenging weather conditions, the Army continued its efforts in the rescue operations at Dharali as well as at their Harsil camp on Friday. General officer commanding of Army's Uttar Bharat area, Lt Gen DG Misra, said, "We are carrying out the task along with Indian Air Force (IAF). Amid our relentless efforts, our main focus is to evacuate the pilgrims from Gangotri shrine. The armed forces have been able to bring around 400 people, mainly pilgrims, from Gangotri to Harsil. The IAF choppers then evacuated 350 of them to Uttarkashi from where they were reaching Dehradun by road. The second priority is to evacuate the affected local residents while helping in restoration of power supply and communication lines." Meanwhile, Uttarakhand director general of police Deepam Seth reached Dharali to oversee the rescue operations being carried out by SDRF and local police units. "Our utmost priority is to rescue the stranded people from there and get them to safer areas," said Seth. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
Evacuation In Disaster-Hit Uttarkashi Underway, 566 Rescued So Far
Uttarkashi: Efforts to evacuate stranded pilgrims from disaster-hit Dharali village were stepped up on Friday, and 566 more people were rescued safely this morning, officials said. Rescue and relief operations are being carried out primarily via air, as the Gangotri National Highway and several motorable roads are damaged at many places. A total of 840 people have been safely rescued on the fourth day of rescue operations. At least 50 people are still missing, according to rescue officials. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, however, has said 16 people are missing -- nine Army personnel and seven civilians. The district administration said on Tuesday that at least four people have died in the flash floods. But so far, only two bodies have been recovered. A total of 566 people were brought safely to the ITBP's Matli helipad on Friday morning, officials said, adding that 300 more people are to be rescued. Advanced equipment required to dredge through mounds of debris in Dharali in search of the missing is being flown to the spot with the help of helicopters. Two Chinook helicopters, two Mi-17s of the IAF, and eight choppers of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) have been deployed. Food supplies are also being sent to the affected areas in helicopters, officials said. Rummaging through the debris in search of the missing is an uphill task as the rubble heaps at places are 50-60 feet high. With roads breached at various points, the thrust is on air support both for the evacuation of the stranded people and transporting food supplies and other essentials to the affected areas, an NDRF official said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been camping at the district headquarters in Uttarkashi for the past few days to keep a close eye on the ongoing rescue operations. In a post on Facebook, he said, "Reviewed the relief and rescue operations going on in Dharali in Uttarkashi this morning." With the help of Heli Seva, Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters, rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing since the morning, and people are being brought back safely, he said. Necessary guidelines have been given to the officials on the restoration of roads, communication, electricity, and food supply. "We are trying to evacuate all the affected people safely and restore normal life as soon as possible," he said. He added that the central government is providing full cooperation for the rescue efforts. The chief minister has also decided to contribute an amount equal to a month of his salary towards disaster relief operations in Uttarkashi. Mr Dhami said the state government stands with the affected people at every step, and added that everyone should come together and help the victims in this difficult situation. He appealed to public representatives, officials, voluntary organisations, and common citizens to make monetary contributions to the ongoing relief work in the disaster-hit areas of the district as per their capacity. The flash floods in Dharali on Tuesday afternoon demolished buildings and swept away people and cars. According to residents of nearby villages, such as Mukhba, more than half of the village was washed out in the disaster. Dharali is the main stopover on the way to Gangotri, from where the Ganga originates, abounding in hotels, homestays, restaurants, and guest houses. In the rescue operations carried out so far, two bodies have been found while more than 50 are missing, including nine army personnel, officials engaged in rescue operations said.
