Sniffer dogs worked through piles of rubble, drones hovered above, and rescue teams searched for the missing persons through sludge in disaster-hit Dharali on Friday, the fourth day since flash floods swallowed half the village and left many missing.
By Friday noon, 128 more people had been rescued, taking the total number of rescued people to 566 since Tuesday, when massive amounts of mud and debris tore through the region, damaging homes, hotels, and vehicles.
Officials said that four people have died so far. Two bodies were recovered on Wednesday. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) said that 16 people, including nine Army personnel and seven civilians, are still missing.
However, residents from nearby villages like Mukhba, who witnessed the destruction, believe the number of missing could be higher. Many workers from Bihar and Nepal were employed at under-construction hotels, and tourists were staying in around two dozen big hotels in Dharali when the disaster struck.
Dharali is a key stopover for pilgrims and tourists heading to Gangotri, where the Ganga originates. The town is packed with hotels, homestays, restaurants, and guesthouses.
According to the USDMA, more than 800 personnel from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police are involved in the ongoing rescue efforts. Sniffer dogs and radar devices are helping locate survivors and bodies buried under thick debris.
Of the 566 rescued so far, 128 were flown to the ITBP’s helipad in Matli, about 432 km from Dehradun, on Friday. The ITBP has been airlifting stranded people from Harsil, some of whom were injured and had to be carried into helicopters on stretchers.
To improve access and speed up the evacuation, the Army built a bridge across the Bhagirathi River in the district. “Today we have established a bridge over the Bhagirathi river, using which the injured and stranded tourists are being evacuated safely,” an Army officer said.
To help people connect with their families, the Army has also activated communication systems, including satellite and radio relay networks. Many of those rescued were able to make short calls to their families to say they were safe.
Lt Gen D G Mishra said the priority is to evacuate those still stranded in Gangotri. “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, south of Uttarkashi, from where the Uttarkhand government is sending them down to Dehradun," he said.
“Our present focus remains on ensuring that we have road connectivity between Uttarkashi, Harsil and Dharali. Secondly, we are also trying to get mobile connectivity and electricity to the villagers north of Harsil, which is an immediate necessity,” he added.
Lt Gen Mishra said medical teams and supplies have been moved into the area. “All people who have been affected by this incident are being provided medical assistance,” he said.
Heavy equipment needed to clear the rubble in Dharali is being flown to the spot in helicopters. Rummaging through the debris is slow and difficult as the rubble heaps are 50-60 feet high at several places.
With roads destroyed in many areas, air support has become critical not just for evacuating stranded people but also for transporting food, medicines, and other essential supplies to the affected areas. Two Chinook helicopters, two Mi-17s from the Indian Air Force, and eight state choppers from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority are currently being used.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been in Uttarkashi since Wednesday to personally monitor the rescue work. On Friday, he visited Dharali, met with locals, and spoke with NDRF teams on the ground.
Earlier in the day, Dhami held a meeting with top officials, including the directors general of ITBP and NDRF and the DGP of Uttarakhand Police, to review relief efforts.
“Reviewed the relief and rescue operations going on in Dharali in Uttarkashi this morning,” he posted on Facebook. “We are trying to evacuate all the affected people safely and restore normal life as soon as possible,” he added.
He said that officials have been instructed to prioritise the restoration of roads, power, communications, and the supply of food and water. With the help of Heli Seva, Mi-17s, and Chinooks, rescue efforts have been underway on a war footing since early morning, Dhami added.
He also said the Central Government is offering full support to the rescue operations. In a personal gesture, Dhami announced he would donate one month’s salary to the disaster relief fund. He urged public representatives, officials, NGOs, and citizens to contribute financially to support the relief efforts as per their ability.
“The state government stands firmly with the affected families. In this difficult time, we all must come together and help the victims,” he said.
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