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The Hindu
7 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Uttarkashi flash floods: NGRI experts launch search operation to trace 66 missing in disaster-hit Dharali
Equipped with Ground Penetrating Radars, experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) launched a search operation to trace the 66 people, including 24 Nepali labourers, reported missing since raging waters and mudslides buried virtually half of Dharali village in Uttarkashi a week ago. The team of experts, which reached the flood-ravaged site on Monday (August 11) evening, will identify and focus on places where there may be human presence under the debris, they said. Uttarkashi Flash Floods: Rescue Ops Intensify in Dharali Ground Penetrating Radars (GPRs) is a geophysical method that uses radio waves to detect objects and structures below the surface. The NGRI had used its GPRs to locate people trapped in the SLBC tunnel collapse in Telangana in February this year. These radars of NGRI can detect human life even in the presence of mud and water, the officials said, adding that the GPR surveys will also detect anomalies within the debris. Four choppers deployed to evacuate those still stuck in disaster-hit Uttarkashi On Monday (August 11), incessant rain in various parts of Uttarakhand, including Uttarkashi, had hampered the search and rescue operations in Dharali village as well as efforts to restore road connectivity to the flood-hit areas of the district. According to officials, 24 Nepali labourers and 42 others are reported missing since the tragedy struck the village on August 5. The JCB operator engaged in restoring road connectivity to the affected area went missing after it fell into the surging waters of the Bhagirathi river. A search is underway to locate him, the officials said. Dehradun was also lashed by heavy rain on Monday (August 11), resulting in waterlogging at various areas. More than 1,300 people have been evacuated since the start of air rescue operations after the disaster. Foodgrains, edible items and essentials like clothes, gumboots and sleeping bags etc. have been provided to the affected people in adequate quantity, they said. Forty-three people were reported missing in the disaster, out of which the body of Akash Panwar, a youth from Dharali village, was recovered a few days back, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey had said on Monday (August 11). Uttarkashi flash floods: Can we prevent the next tragedy? | In Focus podcast The ex-gratia announced by the State Government as immediate relief has also been provided to the family of the deceased youth, he said. The 42 who still remain missing include nine army personnel, eight residents of Dharali village, five from nearby areas, one person from Tehri district, 13 from Bihar and six from Uttar Pradesh. Apart from these, 29 Nepali labourers were also reported missing initially, out of which five have been contacted after the restoration of mobile network in the area, he said. More details about the remaining 24 labourers like their mobile numbers and places where they hailed from have been sought from their contractors, he said. Distribution of an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each as immediate relief among the affected people is going on, he said, adding that a larger package of relief and rehabilitation is being prepared for them. The State Government, quoting the Meteorological Department, said that the weather will remain bad for the next few days with heavy rain predicted in the state on August 13, 14 and 15. Uttarakhand HC deploys dedicated team Uttarakhand Civil Judge, Sachin Kumar, speaking on the recent devastating Uttarkashi floods, said that the High Court will deploy a dedicated team of doctors and others to visit the site and prepare a report. 'The Supreme Court has a department called NALSA for helping victims of such disasters. On the directions of the Nainital High Court, our District Legal Services Authority has been instructed to deploy our dedicated team, which includes doctors, NDRF, SDRF personnel, advocates, and physicians,' said Justice Kumar. 'They will visit the site and prepare a report on the facilities the victims are currently receiving, including whether they are getting enough food and addressing their other basic needs. We will compile this report and send it to the High Court. This will undoubtedly benefit the victims. We will also try to implement schemes that will assist them in their compensation and rehabilitation,' Justice Kumar added further. Air rescue operations continue Authorities continued air operations for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) to rescue the stranded people in the areas of Dharali and Harsil in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. People trapped in the Dharali-Harsil disaster are being rescued through helicopters and brought to Matli helipad, from where arrangements have also been made to ensure their safe arrival at their destination, said officials. Meanwhile, efforts are being made continuously by the teams of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam and Irrigation Department to open the lake formed on the Bhagirathi river near the Harshil helipad in Uttarkashi district in a controlled manner, said an official release. District Magistrate Prashant Arya has been in Dharali Harshil since August 5, continuously directing all arrangements to provide all possible help to the disaster victims. The official release has stated that the District Magistrate is conducting continuous inspections of the area where the lake on the Bhagirathi river at the Harshil helipad is being manually opened. About 1,278 people have been rescued in operations in Dharali, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said on Monday (August 11). Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told ANI, 'Following a disaster in Dharali, about 1,278 people, including those from other states, stranded at Gangotri Dham, were evacuated. The operation is now complete. Electricity and mobile networks have been restored.' 'Valley Bridge, road connectivity restored' He added that the Valley Bridge and road connectivity have been restored, and the district officials are monitoring the distribution of ₹5 lakh assistance announced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 'The Valley Bridge has been restored, and road connectivity should be fully restored by evening. Essential supplies like food, warm clothing, and daily items have arrived for distribution. District officials monitor the situation as the distribution of Rs 5 lakh assistance, announced by the CM, begins,' he said. The Commissioner added, 'A three-member committee appointed by the CM has arrived to assess relief and rehabilitation packages. They will submit an initial report in a week and a final report within a month.'
India.com
30-07-2025
- Science
- India.com
Beneath the Blessings: Why Ground Penetrating Radar Must Illuminate Dharmasthala's Darkness
(File) Dharmasthala case:The latest events in Dharmasthala have shocked people across the country. This temple town in Karnataka is famous for the sacred Manjunatha Temple and the peaceful Netravathi River. But now, it is in the news for a disturbing reason. A former worker has claimed that hundreds of bodies—mainly of women and girls who may have been raped or murdered—were secretly buried over many years near the temple area. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has started digging based on the maps and directions given by the whistleblower. However, the land near the river is full of mud, rocks, and uneven ground. This makes digging slow, difficult, and not very successful. As recent reports show, even the first site they dug at did not find anything, proving how limited and unreliable this manual method is. This is where modern technology like Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can make a big difference. GPR is a non-destructive method that uses radar signals to look under the ground. A GPR system includes a control unit, antennas to send and receive signals, a power supply, and a screen to show the results. It works by sending high-frequency electromagnetic (EM) waves into the soil. These waves bounce back when they hit something buried, like bones, disturbed soil, or empty spaces. The system notes how long the signal takes to return and how strong it is, creating an image of what's under the surface. Choosing the right GPR frequency is very important. Lower frequencies (like 50 to 200 MHz) can go deeper—up to 10 to 15 metres if the ground is good—but they show less detail. Higher frequencies (like 400 MHz to 1.5 GHz) show clearer and smaller objects, but only from shallow depths—maybe up to 1 metre. For investigations like this, where bodies may be buried at different depths, it is best to use a mix of frequencies or special antennas that stay close to the ground. These give better signals and are not disturbed by outside noise. This way, experts can look for both deep and shallow signs of burial. The soil near the Netravathi River is a mix of sand, clay, and silt—this is called alluvial soil. Because of heavy rains in that area, the ground stays wet and has rocks like hornblende and clay like kaolinite. Wet or clay-filled soils can weaken the GPR signals and reduce how deep they go. But GPR can still detect changes in the ground's electrical properties and water levels. When a body is buried, it disturbs the natural soil layers. As the body decays, it creates empty spaces or changes in moisture and density. These are seen as clear signals or curved patterns on the GPR image. If the survey is done during dry weather and by trained experts, GPR can work well even in difficult soil like this. It gives a more complete and faster picture than digging by hand. Some people may think that this technology is too expensive. But actually, it is quite affordable for the government and investigation teams. A basic GPR machine costs around ₹10 to ₹15 lakh. More advanced ones can go up to ₹50 lakh. Renting a GPR machine costs between ₹30,000 and ₹1.5 lakh per month. In some cases, full project-based services are also available—either for ₹10 per square metre or up to ₹3.5 lakh a month. Training someone to use the machine may cost another ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh. Compared to the cost of long manual digging, and the risk of missing important clues, GPR is cheaper, quicker, and gives better results. India does not have to depend on other countries for this equipment. We have companies that make and supply GPR machines here. For example, Mistral Solutions in Bengaluru has worked with DRDO to build handheld GPR machines. Aimil Ltd in Delhi provides GPR equipment in partnership with global brands. There are also trusted suppliers in cities like Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, and Chennai. These companies supply machines, offer support, and help with training. Their GPR systems are already used in archaeology, engineering, and forensic work across India. So, we already have the technology and trained people right here. India has used GPR successfully in many past projects. In Uttar Pradesh, ancient sites like Ahichhatra and Kaushambi were scanned using GPR. Later digging confirmed the presence of old buildings that GPR had found. In Andhra Pradesh, at a place called Motravulapadu, GPR helped scientists find fossils and bones buried deep in the ground. GPR has also helped map underground rock layers and old river paths in states like Gujarat. These real examples clearly show that GPR works well in different types of Indian soil—whether dry, wet, or full of rocks. It is a trusted tool for looking below the surface without digging. Even though we have this proven and available technology, there is no official news that GPR is being used in Dharmasthala. Reports say the SIT is still depending only on maps given by the whistleblower and digging manually. But this is slow, uncertain, and can miss buried bodies—especially in areas near rivers, where the land is complex and full of stones and trees. The fact that the first dig found nothing shows that it's time for a better method. Dharmasthala is a sacred and sensitive place, so the investigation must be done with care, respect, and precision. GPR offers a way to find the truth without damaging the land. It is modern, scientific, and cost-effective. If the SIT uses this technology, they can save time, protect the area, and make sure no burial site is left unseen. The Netravathi River has always stood for life and purity. It should not become a place where dark secrets remain buried. We must act quickly and responsibly. The truth must come out—and Ground Penetrating Radar can help us make that happen. (The author, Girish Linganna, is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is also the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: girishlinganna@
