28-member tourist group from Kerala missing after cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi
According to the relatives, cited in a PTI news agency report, the group was leaving from Uttarkashi to Gangotri at around 8:30 in the morning.
Several people have gone missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in the Dharali area of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand on Tuesday. The huge torrent swept away houses, hotels, and homestays that lay along the Gangotri pilgrimage site. Follow for live updates on Uttarakhand flash floods
Of the 28 individuals missing, 20 are reported to be from Kerala settled in Maharashtra, while the other eight are from different districts in Kerala, a relative of one of the couples told PTI.
She also said that she talked to them a day ago, in which the couple said they were leaving Gangotri. The landslides have occurred along the same route, and the relatives are now unable to contact them. 'We have been unable to contact them since they left,' she said.
The couple went through a Haridwar-based travel agency that organised the 10-day Uttarakhand tour, but now even they are unable to provide any updates.
'Their phones may have run out of battery by now. There is no mobile network in that region currently,' the report quoted her as saying.
Also read: Watch: Rescue videos show scale of damage in Uttarakhand cloudburst
Uttarkashi cloudburst
The cloudburst that took place on Tuesday afternoon struck Dharali, an ecologically fragile region, and has so far claimed the lives of at least 4 people. As per officials, nearly half of Dharali has been buried under the massive mudslide of debris, slush, and water. Dharali is a popular stop on the route to Gangotri, the origin of the Ganga, and hosts several tourists every year.
Meanwhile, nine Indian Army personnel were also missing after the devastating flood in the Kheer Ganga river that led to the destruction. Rescue efforts are now underway, and 150 personnel led by Col Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of 14 RAJRIF, are engaged in critical relief operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took note of the incident and spoke to Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In an X post, PM Modi informed that the state government is supervising the relief teams and every possible effort is being made to assist people.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Nepal waives climbing fees for 97 mountain peaks
Nepal has waived climbing fees for 97 mountains, officials said on Wednesday (August 13, 2025), hoping to steer people to its lesser-known peaks and boost local economies. Climbers pay for permits on Nepali peaks and the fees vary depending on the mountain's height and popularity, with heftier charges for those such as Everest. The 97 mountains, ranging in height from 5,870 metres (19,300 feet) to 7,132 metres, are located in the western Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. "We hope it will bring our hidden treasures in the limelight and diversify the mountains Nepal offers," Himal Gautam, of Nepal's tourism department, told AFP. It follows a busy spring climbing season in Nepal during which the government issued 1,168 climbing permits. Over half of those were for peaks above 8,000 metres, including Everest, the tallest in the world at 8,849 metres. In contrast, others saw little climbing activity and generated minimal revenue from so-called royalty fees. "These remote areas have immense tourism potential and we hope the local economy can benefit," said Gautam. Nima Nuru Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, welcomed the decision but said much more was needed to drive interest in remote mountains. "Royalty fees alone is not keeping mountaineers [away] from these areas. We need to develop the infrastructure and manpower required for running expeditions there," Sherpa said. Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of climbers every year during the spring and autumn climbing seasons. A boom in climbers has made mountaineering a lucrative business since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa made the first Everest ascent in 1953. In February, Nepal increased permit fees for Everest from $11,000 to $15,000 starting next spring, hoping it will help tackle pollution and boost safety.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Air Canada cancels flights: What do we know about strike of Canada's largest carrier?
Air Canada is cancelling flights from Thursday, as the country's largest carrier winds down service ahead of a looming Saturday strike by its more than 10,000 flight attendants. Montreal-based Air Canada said on Wednesday it plans to cease flying on Saturday after its flight attendants' union served a 72-hour strike notice due to stalled contract talks over pay. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge carry about 130,000 customers a day. A strike would hit the country's tourism sector during the height of summer travel. Air Canada is also the foreign carrier with the largest number of flights to the U.S. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program The standoff is testing the country's Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney, which was asked by Air Canada to impose arbitration on both sides. Representatives of Carney and Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu did not respond to requests for comment on whether they would take action, such as imposing arbitration that would stop a strike. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Canada is looking for skilled immigrants from Jamaica! Canadian Visa Professionals Sign Up Hajdu on Tuesday encouraged both parties to remain at the table until a deal is reached. The dispute hinges on the way airlines compensate flight attendants. Most airlines have traditionally paid attendants only when planes are in motion. But flight attendants in North America have sought compensation for hours worked, including for tasks such as boarding passengers and waiting in the airport. The strike by flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees is set to begin at 12:58 a.m. EDT (0458 GMT) on Saturday. Air Canada has said customers would be fully refunded for cancellations, which could hit lucrative routes between Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. The airline also issued a lockdown notice beginning 32 minutes after the strike. It had declared a deadlock in negotiations on Tuesday, after the union rejected its proposal for binding arbitration. Live Events The carrier had offered a 38% increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year. However, the union said the offer would raise actual wages by 17.2% over four years and was below inflation. Air Canada had offered to compensate flight attendants for some unpaid work, but only at 50% of their hourly rate. A union spokesperson said its negotiators are awaiting a response from Air Canada after it made a new proposal Tuesday night. Flight attendants have negotiated with more confidence, encouraged by improved airline earnings in 2024 and bumper pay deals for pilots since the pandemic. Such concessions would raise labor costs for Air Canada, which reported a drop in second-quarter profit, weighed down by weak passenger traffic to the U.S. FAQs Q1. Which airline has cancelled flights? A1. Air Canada is cancelling flights from Thursday. Q2. How many passengers Air Canada carry on a daily basis? A2. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge carry about 130,000 customers a day.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
India-China flights: IndiGo ready to resume service to Beijing, says CEO Pieter Elbers; airline awaits 'bilateral arrangements'
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers (Image credits: ANI) NEW DELHI: IndiGo has said it is ready to resume direct flights between India and China, as both countries move closer to finalizing bilateral arrangements, CEO Pieter Elbers said on Wednesday. "The airline stands ready to resume these services as soon as bilateral arrangements between the two countries allow," Elbers said, as quoted by PTI, adding that IndiGo, guided by its entrepreneurial spirit, remains committed to identifying and pursuing commercially viable opportunities. Before the coronavirus pandemic, IndiGo operated daily flights from Delhi to Chengdu until February 6, 2020, and from Kolkata to Guangzhou until February 1, 2020. Both Indian and Chinese carriers had offered direct services between the two nations. The flights were suspended following the outbreak of COVID-19 and remained halted due to tensions along the eastern Ladakh border. Air India 's direct flights from Delhi to Shanghai were also suspended in early 2020. Sources said on Tuesday that India and China are in an "advanced stage" of negotiations to resume direct flights soon, reported PTI. Earlier this year, on January 27, the two countries had agreed in principle to restart direct air services as part of efforts to "stabilise and rebuild" bilateral ties.
