New Delhi, Aug 6: At least five people died and over 50 are feared missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods in the Kheer Ganga river in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on Tuesday afternoon.
The floods struck the mountain town of Dharali, located 8600 feet above sea level, sweeping through hotels, homes, and other structures.
Dramatic video footage shared by locals showed torrents of water submerging buildings and sweeping away residents.
Rescue teams recovered a body by Wednesday evening.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Dharali to assess the situation and oversee ongoing rescue operations.
He confirmed that 190 people had been rescued from the affected region so far.
Overall, 413 people have been rescued, while nearly 100 remain stranded in isolated areas due to blocked roads and debris.
Eleven Army soldiers are missing in the Harsil area of the district following a cloudburst and resulting flash flood.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
“Eleven Army soldiers are reported missing following yesterday’s flash flood in the Uttarkashi region in Harsil,” DIG Mohsin Shahidi of the NDRF said.
Meanwhile, the Army has launched a full-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation.
Over 225 personnel, including infantry, engineers, and seven specialised teams equipped with Reeco Radar, are engaged in rescue and search efforts.
The operation is hampered by the collapse of a key bridge and road blockages, which have cut off access to the flood-hit zone.
Search and rescue dogs have been deployed in Harsil, with additional canine units enroute from Remount and Veterinary Corps centres to support efforts in locating those missing.
Continuous rainfall in the region is worsening the challenge for rescue teams.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued fresh warnings for heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand, especially in the higher elevations.
Dharali and nearby Sukhi Top have witnessed large-scale destruction, with landslides and water flows inundating entire sections of the villages.
Excavators and other heavy machinery are being used to clear boulders and reach those stranded or buried under debris.
The scale of devastation has prompted local authorities and national agencies to maintain round-the-clock emergency operations as families await news of their missing loved ones.
