Daijiworld Media Network – Dharali
Dharali, Aug 8: Sniffer dogs scoured the towering rubble, drones hovered above, and rescue teams waded through thick sludge in flood-ravaged Dharali on Friday, the fourth day since torrential waters ripped through the village, swallowing homes, hotels and vehicles, and leaving scores missing.
By Friday noon, 128 people had been rescued, bringing the total number of those evacuated since Tuesday to 566, officials confirmed. However, 16 people — including nine Army personnel and seven civilians — remain unaccounted for, according to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA).
So far, four deaths have been confirmed, with two bodies recovered on Wednesday. Locals from nearby Mukhba believe the number of missing could be higher, as several migrant labourers from Bihar and Nepal were working in under-construction hotels, and at least two dozen large hotels had guests when the disaster struck.
Dharali, a bustling hub en route to Gangotri — the origin of the Ganga — is lined with hotels, restaurants and guest houses, many of which now lie in ruins under 50-60 feet of debris.
Over 800 personnel from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and police have been deployed. Search efforts are being aided by sniffer dogs, radars, and drones, while advanced debris-clearing machinery is being flown in via helicopters.
A total of 128 people were airlifted Friday to the ITBP's Matli helipad, located 432 km from Dehradun. The injured were carried on stretchers into helicopters. In a major development, the Army built a temporary bridge over the Bhagirathi river to facilitate evacuations.
"Today we have established a bridge over the Bhagirathi river, using which the injured and stranded tourists are being evacuated safely," an Army official said.
To aid communication, the Army activated satellite and radio relay systems, allowing rescued people to briefly contact their families.
Lt Gen D G Mishra said, "With the aid of the civil administration, civil helicopters and the Indian Air Force, we have been able to pull out approximately 355 people from Harsil to Matli, from where the state government is moving them to Dehradun."
He emphasised the immediate need to restore road connectivity between Uttarkashi, Harsil and Dharali, along with mobile networks and electricity in the region.
Meanwhile, two Chinook helicopters, two Mi-17s from the Indian Air Force, and eight helicopters from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority have been deployed for relief operations. With roads damaged at multiple points, air support remains critical for evacuations and for transporting food and essential supplies, an NDRF official said.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been camping in Uttarkashi since Wednesday, visited Dharali on Friday to oversee operations and speak with locals and personnel.
“Reviewed the relief and rescue operations going on in Dharali in Uttarkashi this morning,” he said in a Facebook post, adding, “We are trying to evacuate all the affected people safely and restore normal life as soon as possible.”
The CM held discussions with the ITBP DG, NDRF DG, DGP of Uttarakhand Police and other officials. He said the central government is fully supporting the rescue efforts. Dhami also announced he will donate one month's salary toward the relief operations and appealed to the public and organisations to contribute as per their capacity.
“The state government stands shoulder to shoulder with every affected person,” he said, urging citizens to unite in helping the victims during this difficult time.