Uttarkashi flash floods: As villages remain cut off, desperate families trek to reach loved ones

Uttarkashi-Gangotri highway remains blocked at several locations, and in some places, road has been completely washed away, making vehicular access impossible.

Dehradun: With mobile networks down and no word from loved ones in the flash flood-hit villages of Dharali and Harsil in Uttarkashi district, desperate families have begun trekking through treacherous terrain to reach the disaster-hit area.

Many parents and relatives of residents and workers from Uttarkashi have started walking towards the affected villages after failing to establish contact. The Uttarkashi-Gangotri highway remains blocked at several locations, and in some places, the road has been completely washed away, making vehicular access impossible.

The situation in Dharali is shocking. The once-thriving village, a key stopover on the Gangotri route, now resembles a flattened expanse. Officially, four people have been confirmed dead, and over 50 others are reported missing. However, locals and officials fear the toll may rise significantly as rescue operations continue and more information trickles in.

Panic gripped families after videos of the disaster, captured by villagers from Mukhwa (located across the Bhagirathi River), went viral on social media. The footage showed buildings collapsing and people being swept away in the mudslide.

Pankaj Kushwal, a resident of Raithla village, recounted his last contact with a friend in Dharali, “Immediately after the disaster, I spoke to my friend Rajesh Panwar. He said, ‘Everything is finished.’ After that, we lost all contact. Many boys worked in homestays and restaurants in Dharali while their families lived in Uttarkashi. Now, with no mobile connectivity, their parents are trying to reach them on foot."

Bad weather hits ops

A day after the devastating cloudburst, rescue and relief efforts continued to face major obstacles. Bad weather and poor visibility delayed aerial rescue operations, which only began late Wednesday. With additional relief teams unable to reach the region by road, the army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) units stationed in and around Harsil took charge, rescuing 145 people so far.

The Uttarkashi-Gangotri highway is blocked at Sonagad, Dabrani, Harsil and Dharali. Some portion of the highway has been washed away at Nalupani, Bhatwari, Pipadgad and Gagnani. A critical bridge near Gangnani has also been washed away. Air rescue remains the only feasible route to reach the affected villages until the road network is restored.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the disaster-hit region and spoke to affected villagers.

"This disaster has caused immense grief to many families, and we understand their pain. Our government stands with the affected families. Relief and rescue operations are underway, and our top priority is to locate every missing person and support every family in need," he said.

Villagers were seen at Bhatwari, attempting to take a jungle route to bypass washed-away roads and reach Dharali. Many expressed concern over the safety of their family members.

The army unit deployed earth-moving equipment to open the Harsil-Dharali road. They used sniffer dogs and drones to locate and rescue stranded villagers. Evacuated individuals were provided medical assistance and food.

Balam Dass, a resident of Harsil, said, "I was in Dunda when the disaster struck. There’s no mobile network, and I have no idea about the condition of my family. A district official told me that they are working to restore electricity and communication."

Before the disaster, 50 to 60 hotels, homestays and restaurants operated in Dharali. The area drew tourists en route to Gangotri, employing workers from various other states and Nepal. Many of them are feared dead or missing.

Madhvendra Rawat, a resident of Harsil, shared, "Many Nepali and migrant workers were employed here. We don’t yet know how many of them might have lost their lives."

As of now, there is no clear estimate of the total death toll. The full picture will only emerge once road access and communication networks are restored.

(The writer is a senior journalist based in Uttarakhand)