‘Men you see running in viral clip were us': Uttarkashi flash flood spares few; survivor's tale chills rescuers
Sohan, who works at Shiv Kripa Hotel, had stopped for lunch at a nearby restaurant on Tuesday with seven friends. They were about to head to the local village festival when they saw something terrifying - the nearby Shiwalik Hotel collapsed like a pack of cards before their eyes.
'Still can't shake off sound of people shouting bhago, bhago!'
A split second later, we heard frantic whistles and people screaming..." Sohan told TOI in a still-shaken voice.
He recounted: "We were stunned for a moment. And then someone shouted at the top of his lungs, 'run for your lives', and everyone dashed out. A black car was speeding ahead.... That viral clip you see being circulated on social media. We're the ones in it. That's us. We were seconds away from being swallowed."
Sohan and nearly 15-20 others bolted toward Harsil, including some who had been standing close to the black car that also took off moments before the flood arrived.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency
Planet Spark
Learn More
Undo
"It was terrifying, like the mountain was chasing us," he added.
The men managed to run nearly 100m - far enough to escape the deadly current. But not all were as lucky. Sohan's friend, Munna Panwar, who owned a small hotel nearby, is among the missing. "He went to his room upstairs for an afternoon nap. That building collapsed. He never came out." Sohan also fears many workers inside Hotel Aanchal may have been buried, as that structure, too, was flattened. "I can't believe I'm alive," he said.
"One moment we were talking about lunch. The next, we were running as if there was no tomorrow."
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 s
ilver prices
in your area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Monsoon regains momentum after long pause as heavy rain likely to lash city
Indore: Parts of Indore experienced light showers on Wednesday afternoon, bringing hope of respite from persistent heat and humidity. The meteorological department recorded 1.1 mm of rainfall in the city, while 3.2 mm was measured between Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Seasonal rainfall in Indore so far stands at 296.2 mm, which is 268 mm below normal. Last year during this period, the city received 499.5 mm of rain, highlighting the significant deficit. The Met department says the prolonged gap in monsoon activity across western Madhya Pradesh has not only raised concerns among farmers but also kept the administration on alert. Meteorologists attribute the renewed activity to a cyclonic circulation over northwest Uttar Pradesh. The weather office has issued a yellow alert for Thursday, warning of moderate to heavy showers accompanied by thunder in parts of Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Dhar and surrounding districts. On Aug 15, an orange alert was issued for very heavy rain at isolated places in Dhar, Ratlam, and Ujjain, with Indore under a yellow alert for heavy to moderate rainfall. Aug 16 also carries an orange alert for Kharone, Barwani, and Dewas, while a heavy rainfall alert for Indore remains in place. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo On Wednesday morning, the city experienced hot and humid conditions, with humidity levels at 95% by 8:30 am and 92% by 5:30 pm. Light rain in the afternoon briefly cooled the atmosphere before the skies cleared again. Winds were slow, blowing from the west and northwest. The city recorded maximum temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius for a week, with Wednesday's high at 30 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal and the minimum temperature at 22.6 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal. Agar-Malwa district also recorded drizzle in the evening hours that turned into steady rain for nearly an hour, making the weather pleasant. Farmers, worried by insufficient rainfall in the past fortnight, expressed relief as the showers revived hopes for their crops. The department expects this spell to continue for the next couple of days, with the possibility of significant downpours on Independence Day, potentially easing the seasonal deficit. 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.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu orders precautionary measures as Krishna inflows rise
Vijayawada: With forecasts predicting continued heavy rainfall across Andhra Pradesh, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu convened a high-level meeting with ministers and officials to assess the situation and initiate precautionary measures. He instructed departments to remain on high alert, monitor inflows into the Krishna river and its tributaries, and take steps to prevent flooding. The irrigation officials informed the chief minister that inflows into the Krishna river have reached 3 lakh cusecs and could rise to 5 lakh cusecs by Thursday. All incoming water is currently being discharged into the sea. Naidu directed officials to issue timely alerts to residents in low-lying areas and relocate them if necessary. He also asked MAUD officials to clear stagnant water from roads and urban pockets immediately. In addition to flood mitigation, Naidu emphasized the strategic use of excess water. He proposed diverting four TMC of water daily to fill the Somasila and Kandaleru reservoirs. Officials noted that heavy rains in upper catchment areas like Mylavaram are contributing significant inflows into Budameru and Velagaleru, which are being discharged into the Krishna River. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo The Budameru diversion channel is being fast-tracked, and Naidu sanctioned Rs 40 crore for completing the Budameru–Velagaleru utility tunnel. Officials also briefed the CM on floodwater management from Kondaveeti Vagu and Paala Vagu, which is being pumped into the Krishna River using four high-capacity pumps. Naidu instructed departments to carry out de-siltation and remove water hyacinth from canals to ensure smooth flow. He further stressed the need to reinforce embankments of canals and tanks to prevent breaches and directed district collectors to remain vigilant and provide real-time updates to farmers. 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.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Now, Mukhba village at risk as Bhagirathi changes course
Uttarkashi: The sound of rushing water in Mukhba no longer soothes. It causes fear. This quiet hamlet, perched at 2,600 metres in Uttarkashi's Harshil valley, from where the first videos of a flood-hit Dharali were shot on Aug 5, is now under threat as the Bhagirathi river has sharply altered course in the disaster's aftermath. Once flowing midstream, its waters now slam into the hillside directly below Mukhba, accelerating soil erosion and threatening the village of nearly 500 residents. Chunks of land have already been swallowed by the current, taking with them the villagers' sense of safety. Suresh Semwal, secretary of the Shri Panch Gangotri Temple Committee, fears the worst. "If this erosion continues, the village will surely be at risk," he said, warning that the same forces that tore through Dharali are now gnawing at the slopes beneath Mukhba. "We saw what happened just across the river -- how land, homes and livelihoods vanished. If urgent measures aren't taken, Mukhba could be next," Semwal added. Local resident Rajesh Semwal stressed that Mukhba -- the winter home of Goddess Ganga -- was a place of immense spiritual and cultural significance, and "urgent steps should be taken to protect it." "Every hour we delay, the river takes more of our land. This isn't just soil washing away, it's our heritage, homes and future. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Harry Potter Actors Who Grew Up Stunningly. The Latest Article Undo Work on a protection wall must begin immediately, before the next surge leaves us with nothing to save," he said. Above the torrent, the 1980s suspension bridge linking Mukhba to Dharali and the rest of Uttarkashi district sways under mounting strain, with its stone abutments crumbling. Declared unsafe on Tuesday, this lone artery saved lives during the Dharali disaster, when people from Mukhba saw the flash flood approaching and raised the alarm. Army engineers and disaster response teams are working urgently to secure and repair it. For now, only one person is allowed to cross at a time, officials said. "If the bridge goes, so does our lifeline," said local priest Rajnikant Semwal. District magistrate Prashant Arya said, "A zip line will soon connect Mukhba and Dharali to maintain the flow of relief supplies. Engineers believe the bridge can be repaired, but any permanent safety wall will have to wait until the river calms." 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.
