Uttarakhand cloudburst: At least 4 dead, 1 body retrieved, 60 missing as army leads rescue in Uttarkashi

New Delhi: At least four people have been confirmed dead, while one body has been recovered from the rubble as rescue efforts resumed in Dharali, Uttarkashi, on Wednesday amid continuing rainfall. According to Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Shrivastava, around 60 people are feared missing, including 11 soldiers. Both ground and aerial support have been deployed to assist the affected population.

"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," Indian Army's Central Command said in a post on X. The Army further confirmed that "additional Army columns, along with tracker dogs, drones, logistic drones, earthmoving equipment, etc., have been moved ahead to supplement the resources at Harsil to hasten the efforts." Army and Air Force helicopters have been deployed for essential supply drops, medical aid, and the evacuation of stranded residents. MI-17 and Chinook helicopters remain on standby, awaiting a break in the weather.

Nearly half of the picturesque Dharali village, a major stopover on the way to Gangotri, was devastated by the flash flood on Tuesday. The village, home to several hotels and homestays, was hosting the Har Dudh fair when tragedy struck, raising fears that the number of missing could be higher than currently estimated.  Local residents have been moved to higher ground due to the rising water levels, and the Uttarkashi district administration remains on high alert. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who cut short his visit to Andhra Pradesh, held a review meeting at the State Emergency Operation Centre in Dehradun and later conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in Dharali and Harsil. “The rescue work is apace. Teams from the Army, ITBP, and SDRF have reached the spot. Around 70–80 people have been rescued. Debris has reached an Army base. A road has been blocked. The DM and an SP-rank officer are on their way. It's a challenging situation as it is still raining there,” Dhami told PTI Videos.

He added that arrangements had been made for medicines and food supplies, with 160 police personnel deployed to oversee relief distribution, including 10 senior officers and three SP-rank officers. Three nodal officers have been appointed from the Chief Minister’s Office to coordinate efforts. “Every life matters to us,” Dhami said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with CM Dhami to get an update and assured the Centre’s full support in relief and rehabilitation operations.(With PTI inputs)