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Hans India
06-08-2025
- Hans India
28 Kerala Tourists Go Missing After Uttarakhand Cloudburst Triggers Deadly Flash Floods
A 28-member tourist group from Kerala has vanished following catastrophic cloudbursts that triggered massive landslides and flash floods in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, adding to the growing casualty count from the natural disaster. The missing tourists were traveling from Uttarkashi to the sacred Gangotri pilgrimage site when disaster struck around 8:30 AM on Wednesday morning. Among the disappeared group, 20 individuals are Kerala natives currently residing in Maharashtra, while the remaining eight belong to various districts across Kerala. Family members of the missing tourists have been unable to establish contact since the group departed for their pilgrimage journey. A relative of one affected couple revealed that they had spoken with their family members just a day before the incident, when the tourists mentioned they were leaving Gangotri. The subsequent landslides occurred along the exact route the group was traveling. The 10-day Uttarakhand tour was organized through a Haridwar-based travel agency, which has also lost communication with the group and cannot provide updates on their whereabouts. Communication challenges have been compounded by mobile network disruptions in the affected region, with relatives expressing concern that the tourists' phones may have depleted their batteries by now. The devastating cloudburst struck the ecologically sensitive Dharali area on Tuesday afternoon, claiming at least four lives and burying nearly half of the village under massive accumulations of debris, mud, and floodwater. Dharali serves as a popular stopover for pilgrims and tourists traveling to Gangotri, considered the source of the sacred Ganga river, attracting thousands of visitors annually. The disaster has also impacted military personnel, with nine Indian Army soldiers reported missing after the destructive floods in the Kheer Ganga river. Currently, 150 rescue personnel under the leadership of Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of 14 RAJRIF, are conducting intensive relief and search operations in the challenging terrain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally contacted Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts. In a social media statement, the Prime Minister confirmed that state authorities are actively supervising relief teams and implementing every possible measure to assist affected individuals. The Dharali region's strategic location on the Gangotri pilgrimage route makes it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters during monsoon season. The area regularly hosts numerous hotels, guesthouses, and temporary accommodations for pilgrims and tourists, many of which have been completely destroyed by the torrential floodwaters. Rescue operations continue despite challenging weather conditions and difficult mountain terrain. The scale of destruction has made it extremely difficult for emergency teams to access all affected areas and locate missing persons, including the Kerala tourist group whose fate remains unknown. The incident highlights the inherent risks faced by pilgrims and tourists in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, particularly during periods of intense rainfall that can trigger sudden cloudbursts and flash floods with devastating consequences for travelers caught in remote mountainous areas.
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Uttarakhand: Indian Army deploys 150 personnel, drones, helicopters for rescue in Uttarkashi
The Indian Army has deployed 150 personnel, led by Colonel Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of 14 RAJRIF, in rescue and relief operations amid a mudslide in Harsil in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi. Army tracker dogs, drones and earthmoving equipment have been deployed for evacuation and providing essential supplies since Tuesday. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Sharing an X post, Surya Command or the Central Command of the Indian Army wrote, "Col Harshvardhan, Commanding Officer of 14 RAJRIF, is personally leading 150 personnel in critical rescue and relief operations since 5 Aug 25 (AN). Inputs from the CO have been received, reassuring the citizens of the Army's continued efforts to rescue all survivors." "Additional Army columns, along with Army tracker dogs, drones, logistic drones, earthmoving equipment, etc, have been moved ahead to supplement the resources at Harsil to hasten the efforts," the X post added. Army and Air Force helicopters are assisting in providing the essential supplies and medicines. Live Events "Army and Air Force helicopters for essential supplies, medicines and evacuation of the marooned are also being coordinated. In the meanwhile, the residents have been moved to higher reaches in view of rising water levels due to incessant rains," the Central Command said. Cloudburst-triggered flash floods in Uttarkashi district on Tuesday wreaked havoc, sweeping away homes, shops, and roads, with several people feared missing. Two cloudbursts, one in Dharali and another in the Sukhi Top area, caused widespread destruction, with Dharali bearing the brunt. Reportedly, the region also suffered from mudslides and flash floods. Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing, led by the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Over 130 people have been rescued so far, according to the Uttarakhand government officials. The State Emergency Operation Centre is in constant touch with the District Magistrate and SSP. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in Uttarkashi, predicting moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by light thunderstorms. Meanwhile, there is a red alert in Tehri Garhwal, Nainital, Pauri Garhwal, Nainital, Dehradun, Uddham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Almora, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
